The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A 31-year-old Mutare man who since 2020 had been giving car owners sleepless nights as he broke into their vehicles and stole vehicle parts and other valuables eventually ran out of luck when he was recently arrested.
Trymore Mutudza of Natview Park, Mutare, was convicted on his own guilty plea on five counts of theft when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala last week.
He was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment.
Eight months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while six months were suspended on condition that he restitutes about $2 million to his victims.
He will serve an effective 26 months behind bars.
Ms Joice Tinarwo represented the State.
The court heard that Mutudza stole from Messers Simbarashe Nyamasvisva of Benwin, Chikanga; Joe Gwerere of Chikanga 1; Fidelis Blessing Musona of Benwin, Chikanga; Norman Mukura of Zimta Park and Claude Bruce Mukandwa of Darlington; all in Mutare.
Ms Tinarwo said for the period extending from July 2020 to November 2022, Mutudza broke into various complainants’ motor vehicles during the night and stole car parts and other valuables.
“The accused person operated alone and would target parked vehicles. On July 19, 2020, Mr Nyamasvisva parked his Isuzu Single Cab in his yard and retired to bed, leaving everything intact.
“During the night, Mutudza used unknown means to remove the wheel nuts which were tightly fixed on the vehicle, stole the left rear wheel and went away unnoticed.
“On July 20, 2020, Mr Nyamasvisva discovered the theft and made a police report. On September 29, 2020, Mr Nyamasvisva positively identified his stolen wheel which was fixed on a Toyota Hiace that was being driven by Mr Luckson Sithole of Dangamvura Area 13.
“Mr Nyamasvisva alerted the police, leading to the recovery of the stolen wheel from Mr Sithole. Mr Sithole was interviewed and he said he got the wheel from Mutudza. The wheel, valued at US$80, was recovered,” said Ms Tinarwo.
She also said on June 14, 2021, Mr Gwerere parked his Toyota Vitz in his yard and retired to bed.
“During the same night, Mutudza used unknown means to break the quarter glass of the vehicle. He opened the doors and the bonnet of the vehicle and stole a break master cylinder.
“The next day, Mr Gwerere discovered the offence and made a police report. On June 16, 2021, police officers from ZRP Chikanga received a tip-off that Mutudza was fitting a break master cylinder onto another Toyota Vitz.
Upon seeing police officers approaching him, Mutudza fled from the scene, leaving the break master cylinder behind.
The break master cylinder, worth US$200, was recovered.
In another case, sometime in October last year, Mr Musona parked his Benz Sprinter and retired to bed.
He left the vehicle doors locked, but during the same night, Mutudza used an iron bar to force open the door.
Mutudza stole four empty plastic containers, a Benz Sprinter shock hanger, a one tonne hydraulic jack, a Size 32 spanner, a Size 30 spanner and three trowels.
Mr Musona discovered the offence the following morning but did not make a police report.
In the fourth count, the court heard that sometime in October 2022, Mr Mukura parked his Toyota ToyoAce vehicle in his yard and went to a neighbour`s house to watch television.
He left a black satchel bag with building plans, a City of Mutare Inspection Report, a ZESA connection application form, a cellphone, a lost number plate report and seven Okapi knives, among other things.
During Mr Mukura’s absence, Mutudza used unknown means to break the driver’s side door glass and opened the door.
He allegedly stole the above-mentioned property.
In the fifth count, sometime in November 2022, Mr Mukandwa left 66x25litres of diesel in an unlocked garage and retired to bed.
Mutudza allegedly opened the gate and stole the containers.
The following morning, as the complainant proceeded to the garage, he saw an unidentified man who ran away.
Mutudza’s arrest led to the recovery of three empty containers from his room.
Total value stolen is US$2 475 and the three 25 litres empty containers worth US$12 were recovered.
“On January 18, 2023, Mutudza was arrested by police detectives following a tip-off. He voluntarily led them to the crime scenes where he made positive indications,” said Ms Tinarwo.
Mutudza also voluntarily led detectives to Mr Musona’s house for indications.
The next day, Mr Musona was invited to the police station where he positively identified his recovered stolen property.
