'Juju' thieves caught red handed after using rabbit to steal

There was drama in Damofalls when three suspected thieves were nabbed and a rabbit believed to have been used in their escapades was confisticated by residents.

The men confessed to residents that the 'juju rabit' was used to make their victims fall asleep. On Wednesday they had successfully stolen household property in the area but could not make good their mission when their getaway vehicle ran out of fuel while still at the crime scene.

The suspects were identified as Bernard Banda (32) and his accomplices Stephen and Lazarus Dzambo and they were quickly whisked away by police. Banda, who was driving, was nabbed after their vehicle ran out of petrol.

A suspicious truck driver approached them and in the process awakened the house owner. Residents thronged Damofalls police post to catch a glimpse of the 'juju rabbit'. The whole neighbourhood was awash with the story of the rabbit as people rushed to the police post where it was detained.

A self-confessed prostitute who identified herself as Ntombi shocked onlookers when she confessed that she was on a drinking binge with Bernard at around 2am before she retired to bed.

"I was with that man unaware that he is a thief and we were drinking at a local bar. I refused to accompany him to Tafara where he was inviting me for more drinks," she said.

Ntombi was not aware that Bernard's wife Esther Magwaza (27), had been called to the scene. Unconfirmed reports suggested that Bernard had been on police wanted list.