A senior investigations officer from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) was left stunned and stranded after his Toyota GD6 double cab was stolen in a lightning-fast carjacking at a busy fuel station in Bulawayo on Saturday afternoon.
The officer had stopped to refuel when a female attendant directed him to the shop to use the swipe machine.
In a moment of routine trust, he left the vehicle idling keys in the ignition.
Inside were two mobile phones and a wallet containing US$1,000.
While he was inside, three men in a Honda Fit reportedly circled the forecourt several times, appearing to monitor the scene.
Once they confirmed the vehicle was unattended, they abandoned their Honda Fit, jumped into the GD6, and sped off.
The officer returned to find only tyre marks and an empty bay his prized GD6 vanished in a flash.
Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
“Further details will be released in due course,” she said.
Police have since issued a stern warning to motorists: never leave vehicles running and unattended.
Service stations, they say, have become hunting grounds for opportunistic carjackers who strike when vigilance slips.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any leads that could assist in recovering the stolen vehicle and identifying the suspects.
