Online Reporter
Mutare Bureau
POLICE in Manicaland have arrested four men who allegedly lured unsuspecting passengers out of a vehicle by staging a breakdown before stealing their cellphones along the Mutare-Masvingo Road.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrests yesterday, saying that the suspects, George Nenhudzi of Hobhouse, Fungai Muwuduri of Dangamvura, Wayne Dhuweni and Vincent Chelsi, of Sakubva, are assisting police with investigations following the incident at the Osborne turn-off on Sunday.
He said the two complainants, John Makinya (38) of Nyazura and Tapiwa Chiwadza (58), had boarded a grey Honda Fit at the Mt Maiga turn-off at Christmas Pass.
“The complainants boarded a grey Honda Fit at Mt Maiga turn-off at Christmas Pass. Upon reaching Osborne turn-off, the accused persons told them that the vehicle had developed a mechanical fault and asked them to disembark,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Police said the complainants only discovered that their cellphones were missing after getting out of the vehicle.
However, Chiwadza reportedly became suspicious and decided to pursue the suspects after they continued towards Riverside in Odzi.
He allegedly hired a bicycle and followed the vehicle before catching up with the suspects at Riverside, where he confronted them and demanded his phones.
The suspects allegedly handed Chiwadza his phones following the confrontation.
He then alerted members of the Riverside community before reporting the matter to the police.
Police officers subsequently attended the scene and searched the suspects’ vehicle.
The search resulted in the recovery of 11 cellphones, six balaclava masks and an empty pepper spray canister.
The recovery of several cellphones and items allegedly associated with the commission of robberies has prompted police to investigate whether the suspects could be linked to other incidents along the route.
“Investigators are expected to establish ownership of the recovered cellphones and determine whether other members of the public may have been victims of similar incidents,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
The arrests come as police continue to warn members of the public to exercise caution when accepting lifts from strangers, particularly at isolated points along major highways.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged motorists and passengers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to the police.
The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Police have not yet indicated whether the suspects have been formally charged.
