By Staff Reporter
A Chinhoyi man has been jailed for pulling off a theft so daring it targeted the very guardians of the law. Godfrey Musa Ndlovu (23) didn’t just steal a car; he executed a breathtakingly bold plan to steal a marked police vehicle from a serving officer.
The Chinhoyi Magistrates Court has now convicted Ndlovu, sentencing him to 30 months behind bars, with 12 months to serve effectively after 18 months were suspended for 5 years.
The audacious crime unfolded on December 7, 2025. Exploiting his status as a familiar face as a neighbour, Ndlovu coolly approached Police Officer Elliot Chanyeka just as he was about to depart from his home . With a convincing story about needing a lift into town, Ndlovu gained access to the silver KIA Rio patrol vehicle.
The officer’s momentary return to his house to fetch a forgotten phone was all the window of opportunity the thief needed. In a move of sheer nerve, Ndlovu rifled through the officer’s own jacket, snatched the keys from the pocket, and launched the police car into a high-speed escape right out of the police camp, leaving the astonished officer in his dust.
A manhunt ensued, culminating in Ndlovu’s capture later that day in Chinhoyi town. The stolen vehicle, valued at $6,000, was recovered, its police markings torn off in a hasty attempt to disguise the prize of this brazen theft.
The case is a shocking reminder of the extreme lengths to which criminals will go, demonstrating that not even the police are immune from such flagrant and targeted acts of criminality. T
