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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THREE Mutare men who have been giving residents in Zimta Park and Chikanga sleepless nights ran out of luck after they were arrested during the wee hours of Monday night.
The three are now facing 33 counts of theft from motor vehicles and unlawful entry.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo confirmed the arrest of Stephen Taruvinga (18) of Maonde, Sakubva; Denzel Tinotenda Chimanikire (20), also of Maonde; and Tinashe Chirau (22) of Area C in Dangamvura.
The trio terrorised residents mainly in Zimta Park and neighbouring Chikanga suburbs where they allegedly committed 22 cases of theft from motor vehicles, one case of theft of a motorcycle and 10 cases of unlawful entry.
According to Inspector Muzondo, goods worth more than US$8 000 are believed to have been stolen.
So far, the police have recovered goods worth US$2 500.
“We can confirm the arrest of Stephen Taruvinga, Denzel Tinotenda Chimanikire and Tinashe Chirau in connection with a spate of thefts and cases on unlawful entry. They were arrested on Monday morning.
“When one of them was arrested, he implicated his two accomplices. The other two were found in possession of property that had been stolen during the same night.
“The three were operating mainly in areas around Zimta Park and Chikanga suburbs, although we also have a few cases that are linked to them which were committed in Dangamvura and Sakubva,” said Inspector Muzondo.
Inspector Muzondo said the trio used to smash motor vehicle windows using a hard object to gain entry, before ransacking the vehicle and stealing valuables, including car batteries.
“The three were found in possession of a bolt cutter which they used to break into houses to steal valuables. The same bolt cutter would be used to cut battery terminals whenever they stole from motor vehicles,” said Inspector Muzondo.
He thanked members of the public for assisting the police to bring the trio to book.
He urged members of the public who lost their property to approach Mutare Central Police Station where the recovered goods are being kept.
“The symbiotic relationship between the public and the police force should never be underestimated. It keeps our communities clean and crime free. We thank members of the public for the role they played leading to the arrest of the trio.
“In the same breath, we also want to urge those who lost their property through theft to approach Mutare Central Police Station to identify their property,” said Inspector Muzondo.
Part of the recovered goods include 16 car batteries, five plasma television sets, one gas stove, six gas cylinders, one laptop, two sub-woofers, six cellphones and power banks.
Some of the property was recovered from public bar operators and individuals who had bought them from the trio.
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