A Harare man got the shock of his life on the 18th of November when he parked his vehicle near road-port in Harare, only to return 5 minutes later and allegedly finding it missing.
Munyaradzi Godfrey allegedly parked his silver Toyota Funcargo along 5th Street on the 18th of November, with the intention of getting inside of a bus company’s premises.
About 5 minutes later he returned and allegedly found his car missing. Godfrey then sent a message to a transporters’ WhatsApp group informing them that his car had gone missing from where he had parked it and seeking assistance in order to recover it.
An informant from the WhatsApp group platform reportedly alerted Godfrey to the presence of a motor vehicle with its registration number plates removed at Pennywise shops on Samora Machel Avenue in Eastlea. He also claimed that people at a nearby Car Sale saw the alleged assailant remove the license plates.
According to a report made to the police, Hashmen Venganai Zinhoro was seen removing number plates, when he realized he had been seen, he got into the vehicle and drove recklessly into Samora Machel, intending to flee the crowd, but he couldn’t get far because his way was blocked.
Zinhoro was eventually caught after he got into an accident with the vehicle in question whilst fleeing.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Provincial (ZRP) spokesperson for Harare, Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the incident.
“On 18 November 2023 around 1345 hours, complainant parked his motor vehicle, a Funcargo silver in colour registration number AFB 5583 outside Bravo Tours yard located between Sixth and Fifth street, Harare. The complainant ensured that he locked all the doors and windows before proceeding inside the Bravo Tours yard.
“After about 5 minutes, the complainant returned and he found out that his motor vehicle was missing. He then dispatched a message in the whatsapp group of transporters to the effect that his motor vehicle was missing from where he had parked it. An informer from the whatsapp group platform tipped off that there was a motor vehicle that was seen being removed registration number plates at Pennywise along Samora Machel Avenue.
“He further informed that people who were at a nearby Car Sale saw the accused person removing the number plates. The accused person upon realising that he had been seen he entered into the car and drove recklessly into Samora Machel intending to run away from the people, but he couldn’t do so because his way was blocked.
“The accused person then had an accident with a bus along Samora Machel and was apprehended by other people before he could run away from the scene. Upon receiving a tip off, the complainant made a report at ZRP Fife Avenue Roadport Base and hired a private vehicle and was accompanied by number 084436C Cst Rupondo who found the accused person at the scene of accident arrested and escorted him to ZRP Fife Avenue Roadport Base and advised ZRP Harare Traffic details to attend the accident.
“ZRP Harare traffic then escorted the stolen and recovered motor vehicle to ZRP Fife Avenue Roadport base and CID VTS was advised. The total value stolen is USD $ 4000-00 and all was recovered. The accused person was handed over to CID VTS for further management and the stolen motor vehicle is held at ZRP Fife Avenue Roadport Base as exhibit. Theft of motor vehicle case was reported under ZRP Fife Avenue,” reads the docket.
