Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande [email protected]
A DARING Bulawayo man who broke into a tuck-shop at Tshabalala Police Station and stole US$41 cash and assorted merchandise has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison.
Brighton Ncube (21) of Nkulumane suburb was convicted of unlawful entry by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Prince Jeconia Ncube.
He was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, with three months suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period, leaving him with an effective 12 months behind bars.
Prosecuting, Ms Catherine Kuzu told the court that Ncube struck shortly after midnight on August 29.
The court heard that he went to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) tuck-shop at Tshabalala Police Station, where he forced open a window to gain entry.
“Upon entering the shop, the accused took US$41 in cash, Buddie airtime, NetOne airtime, yoghurts, Mojo drink, Shumba mahewu, bread, Dairy Burst drink, Kombucha Lite, Coca-Cola Pet,
Fanta drink, matches, rock buns, cigarettes and bread plastics worth US$270,” said Ms Kuzu.
However, Ncube’s midnight raid was short-lived after an alert police officer manning the premises spotted him and apprehended him before he could escape. The stolen cash and merchandise were subsequently recovered, leading to his arrest.
