Breaking into the same house twice in a space of two weeks, especially after the first raid alerted the occupants, is probably not confidence but simply asking to be caught.
This is exactly what 28-year-old Bright Chiteshe did.
This, however, did not have a happy ending.
Well, on February 15 this year, shortly after midnight, Bright, of Nyakudya village, under Chief Rwizi, in Mhondoro, together with his co-accused Brian Chiteshe (28), who lives in Nehanda, Dzivaresekwa Extension, first targeted a house in the latter’s neighbourhood.
Around 1.20am, the pair reportedly broke into the house, where they confronted and threatened the complainant and her son before helping themselves to electronic gadgets — cellphones, a laptop and tablet.
Apparently feeling sufficiently emboldened, the robbers then demanded the keys to a Honda Fit parked at the house.
There was just one small problem: They could not drive the car.
So, having gone through the trouble of breaking into the house, terrorising the occupants and demanding the car keys, they eventually abandoned that part of the plan and fled.
A sensible criminal would probably lie low and enjoy the spoils.
Bright apparently thought differently.
On March 1, barely two weeks after the first robbery, he and his accomplice returned to the same house.
This time they entered through a window and stole two cellphones, cash and, crucially, keys to the Honda Fit.
This time, the car was successfully driven away.
But this proved to be their greatest undoing.
On April 16, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department’s homicide section received information that the stolen Honda Fit was being advertised for sale on social media.
Detectives followed up on the information and recovered the vehicle in Highfield, Harare.
The trail led them to Bright and his co-accused, who were arrested.
The pair was hauled before a Harare court.
Bright was duly convicted on two counts of robbery and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Brian, however, was acquitted.
So, in the end, Bright’s decision to raid the same house twice proved to be anything but bright — turning his second bite of the cherry distinctly bitter.
