A 27-year-old man in Bulawayo shocked police by stealing an officer’s car from a station.
He was later caught but escaped handcuffed, only to be found hiding under a bed.
A man in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, has stunned law enforcement officials after allegedly stealing a police officer’s car right outside the Bulawayo Central Police Station, only to later escape from custody after being arrested.
According to reports, the incident occurred on October 31, 2025, when Constable Mashora parked his Honda Fit in the station’s parking lot, locked it, and went on duty. Prosecutors said the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Talent Mpofu from Entumbane, later approached the vehicle and used an unknown tool to unlock it, start the engine, and drive away. The officer’s personal belongings, including clothes and a satchel, were inside the car.
When Constable Mashora returned after his shift, the vehicle was missing. He immediately reported the theft and began searching for it the next day using a hired car. Detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad later traced the stolen car to Mpofu’s home, leading to his arrest.
Reports say Mpofu then led officers to a service station near Western Commonage Police Station, where the Honda Fit had been abandoned. However, while being escorted back to Bulawayo Central Police Station, the situation took an unexpected turn. Despite being handcuffed, Mpofu allegedly ran out of the police courtyard, fled to his home, and had the cuffs removed by his wife and a neighbour. Detectives eventually found him hiding under a bed.
During the court hearing, Constable Mashora testified that his car had been fitted with different number plates and that Mpofu was wearing his T-shirt and sandals when arrested. Mpofu, who appeared before a regional magistrate on November 7, 2025, was remanded in custody and reportedly claimed he committed the crime out of financial desperation.
