Two Bulawayo men who met at a betting place and became robbery buddies have been arrested for stealing two heavy duty truck batteries at Fairview Car Park in Nkulumane suburb.
The two accused persons, Funboy Sibanda aged 36 years and Andile Ndlovu aged 31 from Cowdray Park and Emganwini respectively; met at a horse betting place in Nkulumane Complex.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident saying after the two met they connived to do criminal activities.
“On the 15th of September, they connived to steal two truck batteries at Fair view car park in Nkulumane 15. On the 16th of September they went on to steal a 330 watts Canadian solar panel from plot number 45 Dunstall farm near Grills abattoir. This happened during the day where they then hid the solar panel in the bush which they then collected during the night,” said Inspector Ncube.
He said the police then received a tip-off that a Tshova Mubaiwa inscribed kombi contracted by Tunnel asbestos was seen loading two batteries along Intemba Road near the car park.
“A follow up led to the identification of the kombi driver who led to the recovery of the said batteries at Kelvin.”
Inspector Ncube said when the police officers arrived at Kelvin Funboy was arrested and he implicated Andile.
“Funboy informed the police that Andile was going to come to the same place during the day to collect his money because the batteries were being offered for sale,” said Inspector Ncube.
“It was also when police officers discovered that there was also a solar panel suspected to be stolen. An ambush was made for Andile who was arrested and the solar panel was recovered.”
The police spokesperson said on the way to the station; a man from plot Number 45 approached the police officers and indicated to them that he had lost his solar panel and he went on to positively identify the solar panel as his .
Inspector Ncube added that the two accused persons are held at Nkulumane police station and will appear in court soon.
He said theft from car parks was becoming prevalent in the city.
“Theft from car parks is becoming a worrying scenario in Bulawayo and with the fight that we are engaging in cooperation with our members of the public, we are sure that we will cleanse the place of such criminals,” he said.
