Nude thief on the loose, terrorises residents

AN unknown nude thief operating in Zvishavane is allegedly going around terrorising residents and stealing cash and cellphones during the night from locked houses in different suburbs in the asbestos mining town.

A number of residents who were victimised by the strange thief's ways said the mysterious suspect would apply some white powder all over his body, raising suspicion that he could be using some juju in his stealing antics.

The deputy officer commanding police in Zvishavane and Mberengwa districts, Superintendent Robert Mugazambi, confirmed the operations of the mysterious thief yesterday.

Supt Mugazambi said what made the strange suspect's ways mysterious was that the victims would only notice him when he was getting away.

He said the thief used either the window or the door as his exit point.

"The thief is suspected to be using some juju to steal from his victims because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the whole saga.

The suspect is said to be hitting at his victims while naked with all his body covered in some whitish powder. What is even more puzzling is that there are no break-ins on all the houses that have been targeted so far. The victims only notice the suspect when he is leaving with his loot. Chasing after the suspect has not helped either as he would outrun everyone," he said.

Supt Mugazambi said the mysterious thief had so far hit Maglas and Kandodo compound where he got away with cellphones and cash.

"The circumstances are that at every house that has been targeted so far, there are no violent break-ins. The victims only get to see the suspect when he is escaping through the window but no one knows how he would have gained entry into the locked rooms," he said.

Supt Mugazambi said on Friday night, the suspect hit at House Number AA 45, Maglas, where he got away with $250 cash and a cellphone.

"On that same night, he also stole three cellphones at Number SQ 20 Maglas compound at about 10pm. He also went on to steal two cellphones at Number 35 Cottage Kandodo the following night," he said.

Supt Mugazambi said police had since launched a manhunt for the suspect.

"Our investigations into the matter are under way and we have launched a manhunt for the suspect."

One of the victims of the mysterious thief, Mr George Goho, said he was still failing to come to terms with how the suspect managed to gain entry into his house where he went on to steal $250.

"All my doors and windows were locked and the money was in my trousers, which I had removed when I was about to retire for bed. What still remains a mystery is how he managed to get into my house whose doors were all locked. I only saw him when he was getting out through the window but all the screams and the chase was in vain as he outran us," he said.

The incident came some few months after Zvishavane residents also experienced "mysterious fires" which saw more than 14 vehicles in different suburbs burnt while parked at night.

The incident, which sparked outrage from motorists, persisted for about three weeks resulting in residents resorting to parking their vehicles at the police station.

There was no arrest in the cases of the mysterious fire.