A 46-year-old man from Mberengwa has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Zvishavane Magistrates Court for car theft.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Hlangabeza Mabhula, also known as Benjamin Kutira or Joseph Moyo, was charged with theft and possession of articles for criminal use.
Mabhula, who resides in Maribha Village, Chief Mataruse, Mberengwa, faced these charges following his arrest. Said the NPA:
<blockquote>
On the 5th of November 2024, at around 7:30 PM, the complainant parked his Toyota Funcargo next to his bedroom window.
He secured the vehicle by closing all windows, locking the doors, and taking the car keys with him before going to bed.
Around 3 AM on the 6th November 2024, the accused person approached the complainant’s residence wearing a balaclava and a glove, forced open the locked doors of the complainant’s Toyota Funcargo, managed to start the vehicle without the keys and damaged the ignition system in the process.
</blockquote>
Awakened by the engine noise, the car owner peeked through the window and saw Mabhula reversing the car. Said the NPA:
<blockquote>
He rushed outside, threw a stone behind the rear wheel, and stopped the vehicle. The accused person came out of the car, armed with a kitchen knife, and charged towards the complainant, who managed to flee.
The complainant was able to apprehend the accused person near Mandava Cemetery with the help of the public.
In addition to the stolen car, the police found the accused person in possession of a balaclava, a kitchen knife, a table knife, a makeshift screwdriver, and an okapi knife.
</blockquote>
Mabhula was sentenced as follows: for stealing the car, he received 6 years imprisonment, with 2 years suspended, resulting in an effective 4-year prison term.
For possession of articles for criminal use (balaclava, gloves, knives) and an okapi knife, he was fined US$200 or 2 months imprisonment.
The items used in the crime were forfeited to the state and will be destroyed.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man named Mabhula in Mberengwa was caught trying to steal a car and was sentenced to four years in prison. He broke into a house, started the car without the keys, and damaged it. The owner saw him, stopped the car, and Mabhula tried to attack him with a knife. The police caught him with stolen items and he was fined. Mabhula will spend four years in prison for stealing the car and possessing criminal articles. The stolen items will be destroyed.

46-Year-Old Mberengwa Man Sentenced To Four Years For Car Theft

A man stole a car from a Harare motorist who was queueing for fuel under the guise that he could refuel his vehicle on his behalf quickly, The Herald reports.
The matter came to light in court where Prosper Makono of Chitungwiza stood accused of stealing Ishmael Makomeya’s vehicle on Saturday along Engen Service Station located at the corner of Enterprise Road and Robert Mugabe Road in Harare
It is the state’s case that:
<blockquote>
On May 23 at around 4.30pm, Ishmael Makomeya went to Engen Service Station located at the corner of Enterprise Road and Robert Mugabe Road in Harare with the intention of refuelling his car, a Toyota Lexus (ADI 7974).
While Makomeya was in the queue, Makono approached him saying he was in a position to refuel the car on his behalf without following the long winding queue.
Makomeya fell for Makono’s trick and gave him his car. Makono then drove the car past the fuel pumps and vanished.
Makomeya spotted Makono driving his car away and rushed to the lodge a complaint with police at Harare Central Police station. There was a cellphone, $1 200 cash, US$50 and a jerry can in the car. 
</blockquote>
CID detectives reportedly tracked Makono using the cellphone which was left in the car and arrested him in Mbare where he was doing some errands. ZRP also recovered Makomeya’s identification particulars, $1 200 and US$26.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/thief-steals-car-from-fuel-queue/">The Herald</a>

Daring Thief Steals Car From A Fuel Queue

A man was severely beaten by a mob in Harare on Monday after he was caught attempting to drive off in a VX V8 Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to a senior government official.
The government official, James Jonga, who works for the District Development Fund (DDF), had gone into a bank at corner Simon Muzenda and Central Avenue around midday.
The suspected thief, identified as Blessing Taruvinga, was caught opening the driver’s front door of the government official’s vehicle.
Mob justice was quickly meted out on him as a crowd that has gathered thoroughly beat him up.
One of the man in the crowd was heard shouting:
<blockquote>Rakazara maronda muviri wese, mapanga oga oga (Look at him, he has some knife scars all over his body) and does not even have a US dollar in his pocket, how much do you sell your vehicles?</blockquote>
On his return, Jonga told NewZimbabwe.com what transpired as soon as he was gone. He said:
<blockquote>I went into the bank and left a colleague in the other car. The suspect got into my car but my assistant was in the car jumped on him and wrestled with him. The scuffle attracted attention from the public leading to his arrest.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/suspected-car-thief-caught-red-handed-bashed-by-mob/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

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