In the early 1980s a military Cessna 337 (known locally as the 'Lynx', with an air-to-ground attack role) was stolen from Thornhill Air Force Base, near Gweru (Gwelo) in Zimbabwe, and flown to Messina (I think) in South Africa. The 'pilot' was a line technician, IIRC, who often used to volunteer to go flying with the 4 Sqn pilots. They just assumed he was keen, but all the while he was 'learning' how to operate the aircraft. He also had a minor amount of gliding experience.
I recall hearing it take off during the afternoon, and those who saw it stated that it was an extremely dodgy takeoff (steep nose-up climb) and it very nearly came to grief doing so. I vaguely recall that the chap was arrested and jailed by the South Africans, although I think he was trying to claim asylum or was defecting. Apparently he may have had a few screws loose ....
The aircraft was returned sometime later by the South Africans ..... on the back of a truck, I think.