Avondale Daylight Heist: Greendale Man Loses US$20,000 After Thieves Smash Car Window

A Greendale man lost US$20,000 after thieves smashed his Toyota GD6’s window in a daylight robbery outside an Avondale restaurant (image source)

A Greendale resident, Herbert Ngwenduna, 65, was left reeling after thieves smashed the quarter glass of his Toyota GD6 and stole a bag containing US$20,000 while the vehicle was parked outside a popular Avondale restaurant on Suffolk Road on Wednesday.

Ngwenduna told journalists he had left the car unattended for a meeting and returned two hours later when his alarm sounded, only to find the glass shattered and the cash missing.

“I came out and saw the glass broken. My bag with the money was gone. I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Police responded promptly, cordoning off the scene and initiating an investigation that quickly focused on CCTV footage from nearby businesses. Investigators said the footage showed two suspects arriving in a black Nissan X-Trail, parking behind Ngwenduna’s vehicle, breaking the quarter glass, removing the bag and driving off before passersby could intervene.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the theft and appealed to the public for information. “Police are investigating a theft-from-car case in Avondale, and nothing has been recovered so far,” he said. Chakanza urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the black Nissan X-Trail or the suspects to come forward.

Community reaction has been swift, with Avondale residents and business owners expressing alarm at the brazen daylight robbery and calling for improved security in public spaces. Social media users warned motorists against leaving valuables in vehicles and called on establishments to strengthen on-site surveillance.

Security analysts said the case fits a growing pattern of high-value vehicle-targeted thefts in urban Harare, where criminals exploit crowded areas and limited immediate police presence. Experts advised motorists to avoid leaving cash or valuables in cars, use secure parking facilities, and encourage businesses to expand CCTV coverage and lighting to deter offenders.

In response to the incident, local police increased patrols in the Avondale precinct and asked businesses and residents to review their camera footage for movements of the black Nissan X-Trail or other suspicious activity. The absence of a captured registration plate has complicated identification efforts, police said, making community tips essential to the investigation.

For Ngwenduna, the loss is deeply unsettling.

“It’s unsettling. You park your car thinking it is safe, and yet people can just smash in and take whatever they want. It shakes your trust,” he told reporters.