Police in Mchinji district have arrested three notorious criminals who broke into a shop and stole K3 million.
According to the district’s police publicist Kaitano Lubrino, one of the thugs identified as 34-year-old Binali Mataka was arrested during the wee hours of Monday by police officers who were on patrol after they became suspicious of his movements.
Immediately after his arrest, police received a report that a Metro shop in the district had been broken into by thugs who went away with a cash chest.
Before gaining entry into the shop, the criminals tied the watchman’s legs and hands and then used gas apparatus to break burglar bars and take the safe.
According to an assessment by the manager for the shop, the thugs went away with K3,024,000.
Police connected Mataka with that robbery and recovered a motor vehicle Toyota Passo registration number MH 1617 and a gas tube which are believed to have been used during the robbery.
His arrest implicated two more suspects, 29-year-old Yasin Chilumpha and Pemba Katinji, 24, who were arrested in Zomba and Blantyre respectively.
The watchman for the shop has also been detained after being suspected of conniving with the criminals.
Among other valuables, the police have recovered cash amounting to K906,000, two motor vehicles, 2 plasma TV screens, 1 laptop, 3 Digital cameras and 2 gas cylinders.
Police said the criminals revealed that they had a hand in violent robberies at Kasungu PTC, Ntcheu PTC, Dedza FMB, Salima OIBM, Nkhotakota PTC and Ntaja Sobo depot.
Mataka hails from Kapire village T/A Chimwala in Mangochi, Chilumpha hails from Chikolongo village Mulumbe in Zomba while Katinji, 24 is from Village Litunji, T/A Katuli in Mangochi
