Chitungwiza man jailed 4 years after tricking guard to steal US$10k Toyota Vanguard

The Harare Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 31-year-old Chitungwiza man to an effective four-year prison term following his conviction for stealing a Toyota Vanguard from a local garage.

Nyasha Maruva, from Seke, Chitungwiza, was handed a five-year sentence by the court. However, eight months were suspended for five years on the condition of good behaviour, while an additional four months were suspended provided he restitutes US$700 to the complainant by October 30, 2026, leaving him to serve an effective four years behind bars.

According to the State’s outline, in July 2026, the vehicle owner, Michael Nyarugwe, left his pearl Toyota Vanguard (registration number AEL 4057) under the care of his mechanic at a service garage in Marlborough, Harare.

Maruva cultivated a relationship with the garage’s security guard, using the acquaintance to gain access to and steal the vehicle’s keys.

On 24 August 2026, at approximately 05:20 AM, Maruva returned to the premises, unlocked the vehicle, and drove it away. The mechanic subsequently notified Nyarugwe that the car was missing, leading to an official police report.

The offender’s run from the law came to an end on 14 October 2026, after detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Vehicle Theft Squad Harare Crack Team received a tip-off indicating Maruva was attempting to sell the stolen vehicle.

Undercover detectives set up a sting operation by posing as interested buyers. They lured Maruva into a meeting, where he was apprehended on the spot.

Upon recovery of the US$10,000 vehicle, investigators noted that its license plates, ZINARA disc, radio license disc, and insurance disc had been removed.

Out of the total stolen property value, police successfully recovered property worth US$9,300.