Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
POLICE in Bulawayo are investigating two separate incidents involving the theft and robbery of Honda Fit vehicles in Pumula suburb and the city centre.
In the first incident, a 52-year-old pirate taxi driver from Cowdray Park was robbed of his Honda Fit after he was allegedly attacked by four men in Pumula South on Sunday night.
Police said the man had been hired by an unknown male passenger from a local garage in the city centre to take him to Pumula.
Upon arrival at an unknown address in Pumula South at around 10PM, the driver parked at the gate, leaving the vehicle idling, and assisted the passenger in offloading luggage before accompanying him into the house.
However, when he returned, he allegedly saw four unknown men emerging from the darkness.
“One of them produced a knife and charged towards him. Sensing danger, he fled from the scene and the accused persons boarded his vehicle and drove away,” said police.
The stolen Honda Fit was valued at US$4 500 and nothing had been recovered by the time of the report.
In a separate incident on Monday evening, a 30-year-old Sizinda man lost his Honda Fit after parking it at a car park in front of a supermarket in the Bulawayo city centre.
Police said the man parked the black Honda Fit at around 7.30PM, locked the doors, took the keys and entered the supermarket.
He returned about five minutes later and discovered that the vehicle had been stolen.
The vehicle was valued at US$5 000 and nothing had been recovered.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele appealed to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to report at the nearest police station.
She also urged motorists to exercise caution when transporting unknown passengers, particularly at night, and warned against leaving vehicles unattended while engines are running.
“Motorists are also encouraged to park their vehicles in secure and well-monitored areas and install tracking devices to enhance security and assist in the recovery of stolen vehicles,” said Insp Msebele.
