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Midlands Correspondent
Steward Bank lost over $300 000 to robbers who pounced at its Gweru branch on Thursday. The group of unidentified robbers broke into the banking hall where they allegedly forced open the safe and stole the money.

Police Officer Commanding Midlands Senior Assistant Commissioner Shadreck Mubaiwa confirmed the robbery, but could not give further details.

“We received a report that Steward Bank has been robbed,” he said.

“The report was that some unidentified men broke into the bank and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

“As police, we sent some detectives to go and investigate the matter, but the Steward Bank management is not forthcoming. They have barred us from carrying out investigations, claiming that they need to carry out internal investigations first and inform their top management before allowing the police to intervene. We are yet to get finer details to the matter as our detectives are still to complete the investigations.”

Snr Asst Comm Mubaiwa said the suspects were still at large. Police sources revealed that the robbers got away with over $300 000. The sources said from the look of things, the robbers could have connived with either the security guards or one of the members of staff, hence the priority to conduct internal investigations.

“What is surprising is that there are guards for 24 hours at the premises which is in the central business district,” said the source. “It is surprising that no one was reportedly hurt or injured during the robbery.”