Police in Mulanje at the weekend arrested 28-year-old Felix Banda for allegedly stealing a Nissan Tiida Latio registration BU 2374 belonging to Beatrice Kalungulungu. The theft took place in Lilongwe.
Banda, who comes from Mphula Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Ganya in Ntcheu, allegedly stole the vehicle around 11am on August 9 2016 at Game Complex in Lilongwe.
A statement released by Mulanje Police Station spokesperson Gresham Ngwira states: “On the said day, Banda stole the vehicle, [he] removed the original registration number and put on a different one which read BS 9292 then drove it to Mulanje.”
On Friday, Banda allegedly took the car to a garage to have it repainted and collect it the following day.
“After leaving the garage, the owner of the garage became suspicious and reported the matter to Muloza Police,” reads the statement in part.
When Banda went to collect the car on Saturday afternoon, Mulanje and Muloza police officers, who were joined by Anti-motor Vehicle Theft Unit team from Lilongwe, ambushed the garage where they arrested the suspect.
Mulanje Police Station has since commended well-wishers for the information that led to the recovery of the vehicle.