Bulawayo – A 28-year-old man from Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo has been sentenced to six years in prison after stealing a Honda Fit and brazenly advertising it for sale on social media. Thembalani Ncube was convicted of theft by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira, bringing an end to a case that highlights the perils of flaunting ill-gotten gains in the digital age.
Ncube’s undoing came after he posted images of the stolen vehicle on WhatsApp and Facebook groups, hoping to find a buyer. Unbeknownst to him, the car’s owner, Mr Nqobizitha Masuku, stumbled upon the online advertisement, leading to Ncube’s swift arrest and the recovery of the vehicle.
The court heard that on October 10th, Mr Masuku, also from Nkulumane, had travelled to Makokoba suburb where he met Ncube. According to the prosecution, led by Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga, Mr Masuku discovered that his car had run out of fuel.
“Mr Masuku locked the car and left Ncube guarding it while he rushed to buy fuel at a nearby service station. The offender used duplicate keys and drove off in the car. When Mr Masuku returned, he was shocked to find that the car had disappeared. He tried to call Ncube on his mobile number, but the number was unreachable,” Ms Mhlanga told the court. Mr Masuku promptly reported the theft to the police.
It was more than a month later, on November 22nd, that Mr Masuku’s luck turned. “On November 22, Mr Masuku stumbled upon images of his car being advertised on a WhatsApp group and Facebook. He then informed detectives from the VTS, who tracked the car, leading to Ncube’s arrest and the recovery of the vehicle,” Ms Mhlanga explained.
In passing sentence, Mr Dzira acknowledged several mitigating factors. He noted that Ncube had pleaded guilty, demonstrating remorse and saving the court valuable time. He also took into account that Ncube was a first-time offender and that the stolen vehicle had been recovered. As a result, Mr Dzira suspended two years of the sentence on the condition that Ncube does not commit another offence involving dishonesty, for which, if convicted, he would be sentenced without the option of a fine. This means Ncube will effectively serve four years behind bars.
However, the magistrate also highlighted several aggravating factors that weighed heavily against Ncube. Crucially, Ncube had been employed by Mr Masuku as a taxi driver, a position of trust that he flagrantly violated. Mr Dzira emphasised that the offence was premeditated, with Ncube using an unknown object to open the car door and starting the ignition with spare keys he had cunningly hidden from his employer.
“He stole the car on October 10 and used it for pirating. He was arrested on November 22 after he splashed its images on WhatsApp and Facebook, advertising it for sale. It was out of sheer luck that the owner stumbled upon the images of his car on social media and informed detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) to track the stolen car, leading to his arrest,” Mr Dzira stated.
Mr Dzira delivered a scathing assessment of Ncube’s character, saying, “In that regard, the court has concluded that the offender’s moral blameworthiness is very high. There was a relationship based on trust, and he was supposed to remain trustworthy, but he breached that trust. He has shown that he is a very ungrateful and heartless person.”
The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of theft and the increasing role of social media in both committing and solving crimes. Ncube’s attempt to profit from his crime was ultimately his downfall, proving that boasting about illegal activities online is a risky gamble that rarely pays off. The Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) continues to urge members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity, particularly online, that may be linked to stolen vehicles. This collaborative approach between law enforcement and the community is vital in combating vehicle theft and bringing perpetrators to justice.
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