The Anti-Motor Vehicle Theft Unit in Lilongwe recently arrested 5 robbers in connection to 3 separate incidents of vehicle robberies which occurred in a similar pattern within the city.
The robbers include Peter Mphepo, (53) from Kaphikamtama village, Tradituonal Authority (T/A) Chigalu, Lilongwe; Gladson Banda (44), from Nkhungulu village T/A Chakhadza, Dowa; Wilson Chimbalu, (44), from Timpunza village T/A Chiseka, Lilongwe; Lingson Binton (31), Kunsalula village, T/A Chiseka, Lilongwe; and Mishoni Namani (31), from Chidalo village, T/A Chiseka, Lilongwe.
In one incident that was reported on July 23, 2016, a taxi driver Mc Fallen Mbewe (39) from Mkwachula village, T/A Chimutu, Lilongwe, owner of a Toyota Dyna registration number KK1696 was hired at Kanengo rank to collect goods at Mitundu trading center.
Upon reaching at Mitundu, he was advised to drive beyond the trading center to pick some boys who would help in loading the goods. However he got attacked by four men along the way, who emerged from the roadside and sped off with the vehicle. The police have recovered that vehicle with a new color of green against its original white.
In another incident on August 9, 2016 the same bunch of robbers, went away with a Toyota Dyna registration number ZA 6867 belonging to Maida Black (32) of Kalonga village, T/A Mponda, Mangochi.
He was hired from Mangochi to carry groundnuts at Mitundu. His vehicle has been recovered with a different registration number of MHG 2933.
The third recovered vehicle is also a Toyota Dyna registration number KU 891 belonging to Gideon Chamatwa (42), from Kapiliuta village, T/A Chulu, Kasungu. He was hired in Dedza on February 2, 2017.
However on that incident, the driver was told to collect goods at the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) offices along Lilongwe-Mchinji road. Upon reaching at MRA’s offices, the driver was informed that another vehicle had already collected the goods.
In relation, the driver was then instructed to proceed to Mitundu to collect some goods which were to be delivered to a certain village. The driver met a similar fate like the previous victims.
The suspects will appear before the court to answer charges of robbery with violence.
Meanwhile the Police are appealing to taxi drivers and vehicle owners to take extra caution against suspicious customers to avoid falling under such tricks.
