Online Reporter
Ethel Ncube
A WOULD-BE Bulawayo thief turned a midnight break-in into a nap time disaster after forcing his way into a locked house and falling fast asleep on the sofa like a tired visitor waiting for supper.
The comedy of errors occurred on Monday this week at Northwards Hostel along 4th Avenue Extension. Residents were left in stitches after the intruder was found snoring instead of stealing.
The accused, Richard Vundla (25) of Old Pumula, appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrates Court, where it emerged that he was a recent ex convict. He walked out of prison in October last year only to stroll straight back into trouble.
Prosecutor Joseph Rugara told the court that Vundla was clearly in no rush to escape after breaking into the house.
“Richard walked around the hostels and forced entry through a window into a locked house. After getting inside, he sat on the sofa and eventually fell asleep,” Rugara said, triggering muffled laughter in court.
The drama took an even funnier turn when the unsuspecting house owner heard strange noises in the night.
Thinking his young son had woken up, the man called out into the darkness but was met with silence.
Curious and slightly annoyed, he opened the door to investigate and was stunned to find a grown man seated on the sofa, sleeping peacefully, as if he owned the place.
The startled family woke the intruder and asked him who he was.
With zero shame and heavy eyelids, the man simply replied that his name was Richard, offering no explanation as to why he was catching Zs in someone else’s living room.
Realising this was no ordinary house guest, the owner called a security guard, who rushed over and escorted the groggy suspect to Khumalo Police Station, ending the shortest crime spree of the week.
Magistrate Patience Madondo was not amused by the sofa sleepover and sentenced Vundla to four months in prison, reminding him that people’s couches are not rest stops for criminals.
Residents at the hostel joked that at least the thief did not steal anything except a good nap, while others quipped that Bulawayo criminals are now breaking in tired and under qualified.
This was one heist that ended before it even began.
