A 24-year-old man from Houghton Park was arrested on Friday for stealing a truck loaded with ethanol in Waterfalls, Harare.
Tawanda Timu Zingwanda allegedly jumped into the parked truck after its driver, Simon Samatura, 52, of Peasant Investments, left the vehicle idling while he fetched water a few metres away.
Samatura was driving a Scania 440-horsepower truck, registration AGB 1235, with a trailer, registration AFQ 8501. The vehicle was carrying 42,000 litres of ethanol along 6th Avenue, Parktown–Waterfalls, in Harare.
When Samatura arrived at a fuel service station, the engine developed a fault. He parked the truck by the roadside and went to look for water to cool the engine, leaving the vehicle unattended.
On his return, Samatura found the truck had been driven away. He asked fuel attendants for information and learned that Zingwanda was driving it along Fraiser Road, heading east.
With the help of a patrolling police officer, Samatura chased the vehicle and the suspect was eventually arrested.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Harare Province spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the arrest. He urged motorists not to leave vehicles unattended with the engine running.
“Police arrested a Houghton Park man for car theft in Waterfalls. The fuel truck worth US$100 000 was recovered, and the suspect is expected to appear in court soon,” said Insp Chakanza.
More: H-Metro
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