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POLICE in Mutare have busted a four-member car-jacking gang which had literally reigned havoc in the eastern border city targeting Toyota Hiace vehicles.The gang, allegedly led by one Takura Muputa (21), appeared before senior magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura facing five counts of theft of motor vehicles as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
They were asked not to plead and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Mrs Chiundura remanded them to February 11, 2015 in custody. Mr Donald Mudadirwa prosecuted.
It was the State’s case that Matsikesimbe and Muputa allegedly used the same modus operandi to hijack commuter omnibuses.
After stealing the vehicles they drove them to Musabaeka Farm in Mutasa District where they stripped them before selling the parts.
The gang was arrested after selling some of the stolen parts to Mandimutsira Car-Breakers near Murahwa Greenmarket in Sakubva.
The court further heard that on January 22, Matsikesimbe and Muputa used a steel object to unlock a Toyota Hiace, Registration Number ABZ2950, Engine Number 5LS304285, which they found parked at the old Harare Bus Terminus along Jameson Street in the downtown area of Mutare and sped off in it.
“The vehicle belongs to Admire Kadzungwa. Mandimutsira was arrested on January 24 after he was found in possession of the stolen engine with the serial number 5L-S304285 following a tip-off that was made to the police.
“He led detectives to his other three accomplices, who later assisted the detectives in recovering spare parts of the other stolen vehicles,” said Mr Mudadirwa. He said the vehicle was valued at US$6 000, but only parts worth US$2 000 were recovered. Mr Mudadirwa added that following police investigations Muputa and Matsikesimbe confessed to have been in the car-jacking business for a while.
It emerged that on October 29, 2014 at BAFS Hardware along Tembwe Street, the pair allegedly car-jacked Allen Kudzai Mutasa’s Toyota Hiace omnibus, Registration Number AAS3266, Engine Number 5L-4687731 and on January 6, they car-jacked Johanne Mhere’s Toyota Hiace, Registration Number ABN5413, Engine Number 5L-4775451 at Number 4, Muchena, Sakubva.
The other car-jacking cases involved Petty Kugarakuripi’s Toyota Hiace, Registration Number ACL0783, Engine Number 2L-1705221, stolen at Mutare Government Complex along Robert Mugabe Street and Vincent Nyambuya’s Toyota Hiace omnibus, Registration Number ABJ4053 stolen at 3EME Army Workshop near Pick-n-Save Supermarket.
Online Reporter