In an unprecedented armed robbery incident, a gang of four assailants ambushed two security guards at Greengables High School on Thursday, October 31, 2024, stealing over $2,000 in cash and various electronic gadgets. The school is located approximately 22 kilometers outside the central business district of Bulawayo.

Deputy Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the alarming details of the robbery, revealing that the suspects were armed with a gun when they stormed the boarding school around 2am.

“Two security guards were on duty at the time of the incident. One was sitting in the Lower Six classrooms while the other was filling the water tanks in the school yard when the attackers struck,” Deputy Inspector Msebele said. “The robbers entered the classrooms, pointed a gun at the seated security guard and ordered him to lie on the ground before tying his hands with a cable tie.”

The attackers then moved to the water tanks, where they tied up the second security guard using a mobile phone charger and shoelaces before bringing him back into the classroom. One of the robbers stayed with the guards at gunpoint, while the others moved to the administrative block to commit the robbery.

To gain access to the offices, the thieves broke a window in the meeting room, which did not have burglar bars. They ransacked several offices, including the reception area, the principal’s office, the finance and administrative director’s office, the scholarship office and the deputy principal’s office. Items stolen included cellphones from an unlocked drawer, three laptops, $2,250 in cash, three Wi-Fi routers and a laptop bag containing the principal’s wallet and examination schedule.

Deputy Inspector Msebele called on the community, especially educational institutions, to strengthen security measures. “We encourage schools to increase the security of administration blocks by installing strong burglar bars on windows and doors with secure screens,” she said.

This incident follows a worrying trend, as earlier this year at least seven schools reported armed robberies in a two-week span. Authorities have sounded the alarm about potential insider jobs and an increase in robberies, especially as schools increasingly accept cash payments for fees rather than wire transfers or bank deposits.

Police are currently investigating the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward to help bring the perpetrators to justice.