Ex-convict re-arrested for similar offence

A 32-YEAR-OLD convicted car thief from Ratanyana village in Matebeleland South province, who was recently released under a Presidential amnesty, was re-arrested for stealing two vehicles during his short-lived freedom.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrest yesterday and identified the suspect as Tevnet Ncube.

"On August 10, police received information that there was a stolen Honda Fit which had been spotted at Maphisa growth point. Police reacted to the information and arrested the suspect," Ncube said.

"During the interview, police learnt of theft of another motor vehicle which occurred on July 28, where another Honda Fit vehicle registration AFS 1944 was stolen while parked at a house in Bulawayo. Ncube was responsible for the alleged crime."

He said on August 9, the complainant had parked his Honda Fit outside a house and left the engine running while delivering some groceries he had brought from South Africa.

The police spokesperson indicated that when the complainant returned after 10 minutes, he found his motor vehicle missing.

There were a 32-inch plasma TV and some groceries inside the car.

"The interview led to the recovery of the first Honda Fit which was stolen on July 28 and had been affixed with a wrong number plate, while its original plates were recovered from the boot of the same vehicle," Ncube said.

"The second vehicle at Maphisa was recovered with a 32-inch plasma TV and grocery. It was established that Ncube was a recent prison release after serving part of his 14-year jail term for committing a similar crime, theft of a motor vehicle in 2016."