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Crime Reporter

At least five Honda Fit and a Pajero were stolen in two days last week in Harare and Bulawayo after their owners had parked them in car parks during the night.

During the past few months, there was a gang of criminals targeting taxi drivers using Honda Fit cars and robbing them before using the vehicles to commit crimes.

Some of the cars were recovered but police suspect the rest were stripped off their parts for resale.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the six vehicles were stolen between last Thursday and Saturday.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with cases of theft of motor vehicles, especially of Honda Fit vehicles, occurring mostly at car parks. In one of the cases, on March 17, 2023, police in Bulawayo recorded a case of theft of a Honda Fit vehicle, registration number, AEB 4619, which was stolen at a car park in Pumula East, after the complainant aged 24 had parked it for overnight safekeeping on March 16, 2023,” he said.

Similarly, on March 17, 2023, a 33-year-old complainant lost a Honda Fit vehicle (ADT 8724) he had parked for overnight safekeeping at a car park along 3rd Street in Warren Park 1, Harare.

On March 17 again, another Honda Fit vehicle (AEV 5490), was stolen along Bastch Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue in Bulawayo, where a 57-year-old complainant had parked it, before going to work at Mhlahlandlela Building, Bulawayo.

In a related case, on March 18, a 39-year-old man discovered that his Honda Fit registration number AFY 7901 had been stolen after parking it for overnight safekeeping at a car park in Manyame, Chitungwiza, the previous day.

In another case, on March 18, a Mitsubishi Pajero (ABE 7470) was stolen at Warren Hills Golf Club, along Solomon Mujuru Road, Harare.

The complainant had parked the vehicle and left the car keys under the driver’s seat cover as he went to the bar for refreshments.

Meanwhile, police in Seke are investigating a case of theft of a Honda Fit (AFA 5656), which was stolen while parked at a car park at Murisa Business Centre.

Police have since appealed for information which may lead to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen vehicles.

Anyone with information can contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800197 or report at any nearest Police station.