News / National
Teenager steals car from church
09 Jul 2012 at 08:03hrs | Views
A CHIKANGA father effected a citizen's arrest on his son who had hotwired a car from a church in the city centre and gone on a joyride with friends at the weekend.
The teenager, Talkmore Chinyanga (17), who has since been convicted of car theft was sentenced to four years in jail with labour after a regional magistrate, Mr Adiona Masawi, treated him as an adult when delivering sentence on Wednesday.
However, two years of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
This follows a report from a probation officer, which showed that the teenager was an unrepentant criminal.
In his report, the probation officer said Talkmore should be treated as an adult because he had three previous cases of theft, malicious injury to property and unlawful entry, which were settled outside the courts with the complainants.
The probation officer also said Talkmore had twice escaped from a rehabilitation home.
Prosecuting, Mr Malvern Musarurwa, said Ndaiziwei Dziwire, last Friday handed over her Toyota Carina, Registration Number ACI 2049 to her pastor, Pastor Phillion Ticharwa to use for church business.
"On the same date at around 8pm, Dziwire and her pastor attended an all-night prayer at the Eastern Highlands Christian Fellowship near Sanhanga Complex along 4th Street.
"Pastor Ticharwa made several trips with the vehicle and finally parked it at the church premises around 2am early last Saturday morning. Talkmore opened the doors of the vehicle, damaged the ignition and started the engine by hotwiring. He drove away unnoticed," he said.
Mr Musarurwa said Pastor Ticharwa discovered the theft the following morning and alerted Dziwire, who made a police report.
"On Saturday, Talkmore's father, Reggie Chinyanga received information to the effect that his son was spotted driving around in a Toyota Carina vehicle in Chikanga high-density suburb.
"He teamed up with a colleague, Ngoni Nyamakanga and made a follow-up where they found the vehicle parked at House Number 2660, Chikanga 2. They asked Talkmore to explain where he had got the vehicle, but he failed to give a satisfactory explanation resulting in them effecting a citizen's arrest on him.
"They handed over Talkmore and the vehicle, which is worth $5 000 to the police. The owner of the vehicle positively identified it," said Mr Musarurwa.
The teenager, Talkmore Chinyanga (17), who has since been convicted of car theft was sentenced to four years in jail with labour after a regional magistrate, Mr Adiona Masawi, treated him as an adult when delivering sentence on Wednesday.
However, two years of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
This follows a report from a probation officer, which showed that the teenager was an unrepentant criminal.
In his report, the probation officer said Talkmore should be treated as an adult because he had three previous cases of theft, malicious injury to property and unlawful entry, which were settled outside the courts with the complainants.
The probation officer also said Talkmore had twice escaped from a rehabilitation home.
"On the same date at around 8pm, Dziwire and her pastor attended an all-night prayer at the Eastern Highlands Christian Fellowship near Sanhanga Complex along 4th Street.
"Pastor Ticharwa made several trips with the vehicle and finally parked it at the church premises around 2am early last Saturday morning. Talkmore opened the doors of the vehicle, damaged the ignition and started the engine by hotwiring. He drove away unnoticed," he said.
Mr Musarurwa said Pastor Ticharwa discovered the theft the following morning and alerted Dziwire, who made a police report.
"On Saturday, Talkmore's father, Reggie Chinyanga received information to the effect that his son was spotted driving around in a Toyota Carina vehicle in Chikanga high-density suburb.
"He teamed up with a colleague, Ngoni Nyamakanga and made a follow-up where they found the vehicle parked at House Number 2660, Chikanga 2. They asked Talkmore to explain where he had got the vehicle, but he failed to give a satisfactory explanation resulting in them effecting a citizen's arrest on him.
"They handed over Talkmore and the vehicle, which is worth $5 000 to the police. The owner of the vehicle positively identified it," said Mr Musarurwa.
Source - manica
