WHAT WILL THE REAL JOHN TRAVOLTA MAKE OF HIS NAMESAKE?

H-Metro Reporters

THE real John Travolta has made a US$250 million fortune making movies, including a number of films in which he plays the role of a thief.

This year, he starred in The Gentleman Thief, in which he plays the role of master thief Mason Goddard, a man forced back into the game to steal a priceless painting.

In Cash Out, which was released two years ago, he played the role of a professional thief whose bank robbery goes wrong, trapping him and his crew inside the bank.

Then, in The Forger, he played Ray Cutter, a second-generation art thief and master counterfeiter, who bought his early release from prison to execute one final, difficult art theft.

He was paid US$20 million for featuring in Swordfish, where he plays the role of a charismatic and dangerous counter-terrorist mastermind, Gabriel Shear, who orchestrates a US$9.5 billion government electronic bank robbery.

Well, the Hollywood superstar will probably be amused that there is another John Travolta in Zimbabwe. And, just like the criminal roles he plays in his movies, the local Travolta is facing theft charges.

Police yesterday announced the arrest of a 34-year-old man, whom they identified as John Travolta, in connection with an armed robbery case in which a shop in Warren Park D, Harare, lost more than US$3,800 and ZiG1,200.

The suspect was arrested following a pursuit by members of the public shortly after the robbery on Saturday evening.

“The ZRP confirms the arrest of John Travolta (34) in connection with a robbery case which occurred at Warren Park D Shopping Centre on 08/08/26 at around 1900 hours,” police said.

According to police, Travolta allegedly teamed up with an accomplice, who is still at large, and raided a shop while armed with a pistol.

The two suspects allegedly wore balaclavas to conceal their identities before threatening the shopkeeper and getting away with US$3,813 and ZiG1,200.

Members of the public gave chase and managed to apprehend Travolta, while his accomplice escaped.

Police later recovered part of the loot.