A 22-year old Gokwe man has been arrested for stealing a car from one of the mourners at a funeral wake.
The suspect, Tashinga Mutengarenga, sped off before being involved in an accident about a kilometre away.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident saying the suspect was arrested following a speed chase with the police.
The incident occurred on Sunday around 4 pm in Mapfungautsi suburb, Gokwe. Said Insp Mahoko:
Circumstances are that the owner of the vehicle, Desire Pendekwa of Chief Njelele went to Mapfungautsi to attend a funeral.
He parked his vehicle, a Honda CRV and went to attend the funeral and forgot to lock his car, the suspect, who was also part of the mourners then sneaked and jumped into the car and drove off.
Insp Mahoko said police swiftly reacted to calls and gave chase, resulting in the suspect failing to negotiate a curve and crashing the vehicle. He said:
On realising that he was being pursued, Mutengarenga, who was speeding, then failed to negotiate a curve and the car plunged into a culvert. He was immediately arrested at the accident scene.