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Mathew Masinge
A 16-year-old teenager was allegedly involved in the theft of a Toyota IST vehicle, which the gang tried to dispose of for US$1 000 at Magaba, in Mbare.
The teenager teamed up with Ernest Bwoni (28) from Epworth, and two other accomplices, and pretended to hire the vehicle with the intention of stealing it.
The teenager and Bwoni appeared before Harare magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gofa, charged with robbery and were remanded in custody to December 28.
Their other two accomplices are on the run.
The State has it that on Friday, at around 10.30pm, Bwoni, the teenager and the two others, approached the complainant, who was driving towards Chiremba shops in Epworth.
They pretended they wanted to hire the vehicle to Munyuki Shops, in the same area.
When they arrived at Munyuki Shops, they demanded to be taken to Maruva, Glenwood and, upon arrival there, they grabbed the motorist by the neck, produced knives and demanded car keys and valuables.
The complainant was dragged out of the vehicle and hit on the head with a stone before his iTel cellphone and US$700, stashed in an envelope, were taken.
During the scuffle, the motorist wrestled with the teenager, disarmed and stabbed him in the chest.
The suspects drove off leaving the owner of the vehicle stranded in a bushy area.
The State said the following day, detectives from the CID Vehicle Theft Squad received information that Bwoni and the teenager were selling the vehicle in the Magaba area.
They reacted swiftly and arrested the two leading to the subsequent recovery of the car.
Police also recovered three okapi knives and a counterfeit US$20 from Bwoni.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter
