Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Lesley Chikudo, chikudolesley@gmail.com
TWO friends from Bulawayo were yesterday sentenced to 26 months in prison for ganging up with an accomplice, who is still at large, to break into their neighbour’s house and stealing property valued at over US$7 000.
Tatenda John Chari (34) and Ntandoyenkosi Mpofu (24), both from Matshobana suburb were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to theft and unlawful entry by Western Commonage magistrate, Mrs Lenia Khumalo.
The prosecutor, Ms Melisa Dube, told the court that the incident occurred on January 3 at around midnight.
“Chari and Mpofu, along with an accomplice who is still at large, took advantage of Mr Sifiso Sibanda’s absence and used an unknown object to forcibly open the back door to gain entry into the house,” said Ms Dube.
The trio allegedly ransacked the house, opening all the rooms and stealing various items, including electrical gadgets, clothing and kitchen utensils.
Chari’s arrest led to the recovery of several stolen items, including a Defy silver fridge, a microwave, a solar light, two rechargeable electrical lights, two 57-inch television sets, two suitcases full of clothing and footwear and three blankets.
Additional stolen property was found at the residence of his girlfriend, Patience Mavis Malaba in Magwegwe North, including a suitcase full of clothing.
The arrest of Mpofu resulted in the recovery of more stolen items, such as an ICV 58-inch LED television, four pairs of ladies’ shoes, a 19kg gas tank, three suitcases full of clothing, kitchen utensils, three blankets, two wall clocks, a toaster, speakers and a trunk containing clothes and shoes.
Some items were also recovered from the unidentified accomplice.
The stolen property included various clothes, shoes and kitchen utensils, with more items yet to be recovered.
Both Chari and Mpofu told the court that they intended to sell the stolen items to pay off debts and use the remaining proceeds to start a business.
The total value of the stolen property was US$7 873 and items worth US$6 717 were recovered.
