Man caught trying to sell stolen Toyota Vitz to car breakers

A 30-year-old man from Hillside in Bulawayo has been jailed for an effective four years for stealing a motor vehicle.

Brendon Ndlovu was convicted and sentenced by the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court for theft of a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The court heard that on 29 June 2026 at around 3 pm, the complainant, 53-year-old Pragji Darren Ghiren, parked his Toyota Vitz at House Number 20, Matopos Road, Famona in Bulawayo. He closed all windows, locked all doors and left the car keys in the custody of his mother, Shanti Pragji.

Later that same day, Ndlovu and his accomplice, Brain Mapfumo, who is still at large, hatched a plan to steal the vehicle. The pair jumped over the perimeter fence, broke open the kitchen door by unknown means and stole the car keys. They then used the keys to start the vehicle and drive away.

Ndlovu was arrested on 3 September 2026 while trying to sell the car to breakers in Kelvin, Bulawayo. The vehicle, valued at US$7,000, was recovered intact.

In an unrelated case, police in Harare arrested Joseph Kabadura (34) in connection with the theft of a Toyota Aqua, registration number AHQ 5525, at the corner of Third Street and Jason Moyo Street on 25 September 2026.

The suspect was arrested along Seke Road near the Coca-Cola area while attempting to disconnect the vehicle’s tracking system.