Police arrest two for stealing six vehicles from a Car Hire company
Two people are in Police custody at Zomba police station on allegation that they stole six motor vehicles belonging to Alexander Car Hire.
The two, Macdonald Chopi 36 and Patrick Pondeponde 39 stole the vehicles after tricking the company that they wanted to hire the vehicles.
Eastern region police spokesperson Inspector Joseph Sauka says the suspects went to Alexander Car Hire and identified themselves as from Legal Research, C/o P/Bag 866, Lilongwe; and said they wanted to hire the vehicles to be used for a country wide research which their organisation was to conduct.
“They even told the complainant to fit the vehicles with new tires, ” he said.
But after signing the contract agreement, the suspects took the vehicles and later sold them.
After some weeks, the Company received a tip that the vehicles had been sold and they started making a follow up but they failed to trace the suspects as the phone numbers they left were not reachable.
They then reported the matter to Zomba Police Station who jointly investigated the case with officers from Eastern Region Police Headquarters and managed to recover all the six vehicles.
“Three vehicles were recovered at Lobi in Dedza district while the rest were recovered in Blantyre and Lilongwe respectively. One vehicle was boarded off and Police managed to recover the spares.”
The vehicles stolen are two Toyota Ace registration number NU 5493 and RU 5493, Toyota Dyna registration number CK 2758, two Toyota Hiaces registration number ZA 874 and ZA 6367 and a Toyota Axio
Police has also recovered one new vehicle which the suspect Macdonald Chopi bought using the proceeds of the sale of the stolen vehicles.
Macdonald Chopi comes from Zazira village, Traditional Authority Kadewere in Chiradzulu district but was residing in Lilongwe area 49 sector 9 while Patrick Pondeponde comes from Lobi village, Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza district.
Both are expected to appear before court soon.
Meanwhile, Police in the Eastern Region is appealing to all Car Hire Companies to fully interview their clients before releasing the vehicles or consider using the company drivers.
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