A 30-year-old Bulawayo car dealer-cum socialite, Brighton Chipunza, also known as “Dash,” was set to appear in court on Tuesday morning in connection with the theft of a South African registered Toyota Fortuner.
The vehicle was stolen from a car wash in Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD) last week.
According to documents gleaned by the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/flashy-bulawayo-car-dealer-arrested-for-stealing-luxury-vehicle-from-car-wash/">Chronicle</a>, Chipunza was implicated in the crime after his WhatsApp chats with the supposed buyer and his accomplice in Harare were discovered.
The vehicle was recovered from a suspected accomplice, Julius Chitubhu, in Harare, with the help of a vehicle tracking company and police detectives.
Chitubhu has appeared in court and was remanded out of custody to December 11 on ZiG10,000 bail for the commencement of trial.
Chipunza’s case was delayed as the State and his defence failed to agree on interviewing the investigating officer.
It is alleged that on November 18 at 10 AM, Silibaziso Ncube assigned her employee, Jonathan Ngando Thuli, to take the vehicle to the Tunnel car wash for cleaning. Read the document:
<blockquote>
He then drove the vehicle to the car wash and left it with Panashe Dube who works at the car wash. Dube cleaned the vehicle and parked it outside the car wash under a tree shed.
He secured the vehicle by locking all the doors and windows and took the car keys with him to the car wash where he placed them on top of the hoover and continued with his daily duties
</blockquote>
At around 4 PM on the same day, Ncube went to the car wash to collect her vehicle and was shocked to find it missing.
Upon inquiring with the staff, she learned that the vehicle had been stolen. She promptly reported the matter to the police.
Members of the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) checked the car wash and discovered that the CCTV cameras at the facility had been deactivated. Read the document:
<blockquote>
Dube who was left cleaning the motor vehicle stated that he saw Ncube’s vehicle leaving the premises and thought that it was being driven by her. He also checked for the car keys and discovered that they were missing.
</blockquote>
On November 19 the tracking system affixed to the vehicle indicated that it was in Harare. Reads the document:
<blockquote>
The stolen vehicle was found parked at Chitunhu’s yard with the front and rear number plates missing. The engine chassis number had also been ground off.
A grinder, 2x stencils, acid and 3x spray paints were recovered from the vehicle upon interviewing Chitunhu who then implicated Chipunza.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man named Brighton, who is a car dealer and socialite, was arrested for stealing a fancy car from a car wash in Bulawayo. The car was found in Harare, and another man was also arrested. The car was missing its number plates and had been tampered with. The thief was caught because the car had a tracking device. The car wash's CCTV cameras were turned off when the car was stolen. Brighton's case is still ongoing, and the investigation is not over yet. The car's owner reported the theft to the police.

Bulawayo Car Dealer Arrested For Allegedly Stealing Luxury Vehicle From Car Wash

A 24-year-old man from Dulibadzimu, Beitbridge, has been arrested after allegedly faking the theft of a rented vehicle.
Douglas Chinoona had conspired with a friend to illegally export the car to Lusaka, Zambia, with plans to sell it there.
Chinoona told <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/man-loses-hired-car-money-meant-for-lobola/">H-Metro</a> that he lost US$2,400 intended for a lobola ceremony and a white Toyota GD6 (AGE 4106) he had rented from Good 2 Go Car Rental while staying at a lodge in Harare.
He claimed that he had booked the lodge for one night on his way to Murehwa for the ceremony.
While at the lodge, Chinoona claimed he was awakened by staff who informed him that two men had arrived with a set of keys, claiming they were authorised by the car rental company to retrieve the vehicle. He subsequently reported the alleged theft at Mabelreign Police Station.
However, in a statement issued on Friday, Good 2 Go Car Rental revealed that investigations by the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) concluded that Chinoona had fabricated the robbery. The investigation confirmed that he had indeed colluded with his friend to export the car illegally.
Chinoona has since been arrested and is facing charges of vehicle theft and providing false information to the police.
The car rental company also asserted that Chinoona neither had the money for lobola nor any genuine intention to pay. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
Our attention has been drawn to an article published in lifestyle tabloid H-Metro on Friday 1 November 2024, in which the writer alleges that one Douglas Chinoona was robbed of our Toyota Hilux and US$2400 purportedly for lobola, was also stolen. 
The matter of fact is that we did hire the vehicle in question (pictured below) to Chinoona on Sunday 27 October.
The following day, Monday 28 October, he called to inform us that the vehicle had been stolen at a lodge in Mabelreign and he reported the matter to Mabelreign Police Station. 
Upon investigations by the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS), it emerged that Chinoona faked a robbery and connived with his friend to illegally export the car to Lusaka, Zambia and sell it there. 
Chinoona, who has since been arrested and is in Police custody facing charges of vehicle theft and the supply of false information to the Police, had neither money for lobola nor the intention to pay any -it was just a tactic he tried to use to fool Good 2 Go Car Rental, as well as the police. 
Be guided accordingly.
<img alt="May be an image of car" decoding="async" src="https://scontent.fhre1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/465273246_122187590762082498_8456384098220608033_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=833d8c&amp;_nc_ohc=YO-fZNSVdwAQ7kNvgE9gyds&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fhre1-2.fna&amp;_nc_gid=AE7FUnH0b31-glyPyCDsPFt&amp;oh=00_AYDUDQ7BjtoD1cmTQqBDRdqPDjxky4pv0Bx48TBgTXI0Mw&amp;oe=672B9F8F"/>
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A man named Douglas faked the theft of a car he rented and tried to sell it in another country. He said he lost money for a ceremony and the car. But, it turns out he lied. The car rental company found out he was making everything up with his friend. Now, Douglas is in trouble with the police for lying and stealing the car. He did not have the money he said he lost, and he never planned to pay. So, he made everything up to trick the rental company and the police.

From Rental To Robbery: Man Fakes Theft, Sells Rented Toyota GD6 Vehicle

A 34-year-old Zimbabwean national, Loaded Maguta, who was arrested in South Africa last month for possession of a stolen vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, will appear at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court again this week where his bail application will be considered.
South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, told <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/more-nights-in-jail-for-man-arrested-trying-to-smuggle-stolen-toyota-fortuner-to-zimbabwe-3757ab58-50cd-462f-87cd-ead5e242ea37">IOL</a> that Maguta appeared in court last week, and he was remanded in custody until Thursday, 09 November. He said:
<blockquote>
The suspect, Loaded Maguta appeared on November 2, for formal bail, he is remanded in police custody until November 9, for further police investigations.
</blockquote>
The Toyota Fortuner sport utility vehicle, which was recovered during Maguta’s arrest, was reported stolen in Gauteng.
Maguta was arrested near the Beitbridge border post. He has been linked to a vehicle smuggling syndicate operating between Gauteng and Limpopo provinces.
The Zimbabwean national was nabbed after a high-speed chase with SAPS from the Kuschke Agriculture School until the Toyota Fortuner came to a stop along the R101 Road.
Maguta was reportedly driving without a valid driving licence, and it was also established that he was in South Africa illegally.
He is now facing charges including breaching immigration laws, possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, and driving a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwean Man (34) Arrested In South Africa Trying To Smuggle Stolen Toyota Fortuner Remanded In Custody

Motorists using High Glen Road during the evening are urged to be cautious when approaching the Crowborough Road intersection, popularly known as “PamaChina”.
There is an influx in the number of cases involving vehicle and valuables theft at that intersection between 19:00 and 23:00.
Criminals take advantage of cars slowing down due to speed bumps and pounce on unsuspecting motorists. 
They (criminals) break vehicle windows using sharp objects and take valuables and in worst cases, scare drivers with weapons leading to vehicle theft.  
Last night alone, two separate cases which occurred within an hour, were reported at Marimba Police Station.
Motorists are also urged to be cautious of a white Toyota Hiace without registration number at that intersection, as it is believed to be involved in the syndicate.
Motorists are also urged to ensure that windows are closed when approaching that intersection.

"PamaChina" —A New Hotspot For Vehicle and Valuables Theft

Police in South Africa on Saturday, 11 February recovered a Silver Toyota Avanza that was stolen in Harare.
The vehicle was recovered by the Maitland Flying Squad after receiving a tip-off.
Three suspects aged 18, 31, and 38 were arrested and were expected to appear in court. SA police said in a statement:
<blockquote>
… on Saturday, 11 February 2023 at approximately 07:40, members attached to Maitland Flying Squad received information while on patrol about a hijacked vehicle (Silver Toyota Avanza).
They immediately operationalized all the leads and spotted the vehicle parked inside premises in 43 Block Makhaza.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was hijacked in Harare earlier this month.
The members further requested to conduct a search in the house and recovered a firearm with the serial number removed and it was loaded with one round of ammunition.
Three suspects aged 18, 31, and 38 were arrested for possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
Once charged they are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on the mentioned charges.
</blockquote>

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