Dui in Court for House Break-in and Car Theft

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

Two men have appeared in court facing charges of unlawful entry and motor vehicle theft after allegedly breaking into a residence and stealing a car.

Mabasa Jakarasi ,44, and Owen Karenje ,42, were arraigned before Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei, where they were remanded in custody.

According to prosecutor Tawanda Nyandoro, the duo allegedly broke into Graham Pritchard's home on January 18, 2025.

They reportedly gained access through an unlocked rear door and stole a black Samsung Galaxy A12 smartphone, which was charging on a kitchen table, along with the keys to Pritchard’s Honda CRV parked outside.

Additionally, they allegedly took a size 658 by 24 volts Taurus battery from Pritchard’s parked Jeep Cherokee before fleeing in the stolen Honda CRV.

Pritchard discovered the theft the following morning and reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Highlands. The case was then referred to the Criminal Investigation Department Vehicle Theft Squad in Harare.

On January 23, detectives recovered the stolen Honda CRV abandoned in Mabvuku, near Donbrooke, Harare. The car was intact, with its keys still in the ignition, but its size 628 Exide battery was missing.

That same day, CID officers received information that Jakarasi was using Pritchard’s stolen Samsung A12. A follow-up led to Jakarasi’s arrest at his residence, where the stolen phone was recovered. Upon interrogation, Jakarasi implicated Karenje as his accomplice, leading to Karenje’s arrest.

A search of Karenje’s home resulted in the recovery of the stolen Taurus battery from Pritchard’s Jeep Cherokee. Further investigations led to the retrieval of the missing Exide battery from one Blessed Kwaramba, who had received it from the suspects for temporary use.

Jakarasi and Karenje remain in custody as investigations continue.