A 31-year-old suspected serial motorbike thief from Silobela has been nabbed by police leading to the recovery of stolen five motorbikes.
The suspect has been identified as Bruce Ndlovu from Tshokotshe village under Chief Malisa in Silobela.
Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrest saying the police managed to recover five motorbikes that were stolen between the period of October 2019 and May 2021 in Bulawayo.
“On the 24th of September 2019, the first complainant in Magwegwe North who is employed by the Veterinary services got up to find his motorbike was missing and he was only left with the keys,” said Inspector Ncube.
He said the motorbike was worth US$1 500.
The second victim was from Nkulumane and his motorbike valued at US$1600 was stolen on the 25th of September 2020 while parked outside his place of residence.
Inspector Ncube said the third victim, who is employed by a local security company also parked his motorbike for the night on the 25th of October 2020 in New Lobengula and found it missing the following morning.
“On the 26th of October, the fourth complainant lost his cycle valued at US$1 000 at Old Lobengula through the same modus operandi. The fifth motorbike was stolen on the 12th of May 2021 in Lobengula,” he said.
Inspector Ncube said the motorbike valued at ZWL $132 000 belonged to Hamara Hygrow.
“On the 20th of July 2021, through police networks, the team headed by Inspector Clever Munasi received information that there was a suspect held in Nkayi who had stolen a motorbike in Belmont Township of Nkayi, the team made a follow-up and interviewed the suspect Bruce Ndlovu in cases involving the missing Bulawayo motorbikes,” he said.
“The interview led to Bruce volunteering to make some indications and the recovery of five motorbikes with a total value of ZWL$ 546 000.”
The provincial police spokesperson added that it was during interrogation that it was discovered that Bruce was also responsible for a housebreaking case that occurred in Lobengula after a television set was recovered from him.
Inspector Ncube said the accused is making his initial appearance in court and investigations are in progress since a number of motorbikes are still outstanding.
