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Crime Reporter 

Two Harare women were robbed and raped in separate incidents after being offered lifts by armed robbers in unregistered Toyota Wish vehicles while a Bulawayo motorist lost nearly US$16 000 to an unknown thief after his vehicle had developed a mechanical fault last week.

Another Harare man was robbed by robbers using a Toyota Wish last week and there are reports that robbery gangs offering lifts are active in Harare.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were investigating Harare rape incidents and robberies committed by gangs using silver or white Toyota Wishes. 

Last Thursday at 11.45am, a 24-year-old man was robbed of a cellphone and cash, all valued at US$487, after boarding a silver Toyota Wish that  had men already inside at Newlands roundabout. 

On the same day at around noon, a woman aged 21 was raped and robbed of US$70, $320 and other valuables after boarding an unregistered silver Toyota Wish along Chiremba Road, Hatfield, Asst Comm Nyathi said.

The next day at around 11.45am, another woman aged 23 was also raped after boarding an unregistered white Toyota Wish with two men aboard near Mufakose High 1, on her way to Budiriro.

In Bulawayo, the thief took advantage of the man as he was trying to fix his Nissan Atlas vehicle parked at the corner of Second Avenue and RG Mugabe Way on Thursday afternoon at around 3pm. He saw the bag of cash, snatched it and ran away and the driver lost US$15 691.

Asst Comm Nyathi repeated warnings to the public not to move around with large amounts of cash as they might fall prey to criminals.