Three men from Bulawayo who allegedly broke into a car in the Central Business District belonging to a cellphone dealer and made off with 19 cell phones worth ZWL$250 000 have been arraigned before the courts.
The alleged thieves broke into Vumani Ncube’s Mazda Axella and stole the mobile phones and also nicked an HP core 17 Wifi Modem Laptop.
Ncube is a cell phone dealer who operates from Unity Village in the city center.
Raymond Chimonero, Kwanele Ndlovu and Valliant Ndlovu pleaded not guilty to a theft from a motor vehicle charge.
Bulawayo magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu denied the trio bail and remanded them in custody to December 2 for commencement of trial.
State representative Mufaro Mageza told the court that on October 19, at around 7PM Ncube parked his car along Fife Street and Corner 15th Avenue leaving all windows closed and doors locked.
Mageza said Chimonero, Ndlovu and Ndlovu connived to steal from Ncube’s car while he was away.
“Acting in common purpose, Chimonero and his accomplices took advantage of Ncube’s absence and smashed the right rear passenger window to gain access into the car. They stole various Hisense, Nokia, Samsung and Huawei cell phones as well as a maroon bag before leaving unnoticed,” he said.
“When Ncube came to his car where he realised his property was missing and reported the matter to the police. Detectives, acting on a tip off made a follow up leading to Chimonero’s arrest and the recovery of a Hisense cell phone. Upon questioning, Chimonero implicated his accomplices and the subsequent recovery of six cell phones valued at $18 500.”
