adminPatrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
TWO Bulawayo men who broke into vehicles to steal have been sentenced to a combined 24 years in prison after they were convicted of eight counts of stealing property valued at $2,015.Prosper Moyo, 24, and Perfect Sibanda, 22, both of Plot Four Hyde Park stood motionless as West Commonage magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo handed down the long sentences.
Moyo and Sibanda, who were convicted on their own plea of guilty to theft, were each sentenced to serve 12 years in prison.
Each of the eight counts carried an 18- month prison sentence.
The third accused, Brighton Mahlangu, 38, who was recently released from prison under the Presidential amnesty, pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to April 14.
On the first count, Moyo and Sibanda went to a house in Pelandaba West on January 20 around 3AM.
They found a Datsun Pulsar parked in the yard and broke a small passenger’s front window and stole a fire extinguisher, 18 screw drivers, test meter, soldering iron and a hammer all valued at $300.
On the second count on January 22 and around 1AM, Moyo and Sibanda arrived at a house in Mpopoma where there was a parked Mazda 323 vehicle in the yard.
They removed a complete size 14 wheel from the car valued $110 and left.
On the third count on March 12 around 1:30AM, Moyo and Sibanda targeted a Toyota Carina vehicle that was parked at another house in Pelandaba which they broke the front passenger window, opened the door and bonnet. They then stole one Exide battery and a car charger and went away unnoticed.
The total value of the stolen property was $80 and property worth $75 was recovered.
On count four, Moyo and Sibanda arrived at a house in Pumula South on March 17 around 3AM. Upon arrival, they broke the front passenger window of a vehicle that was parked in the yard.
They then opened the bonnet and stole a battery valued at $70 and went away.
On count five and on March 20 around 2AM, they went to a house in Pumula South where they saw a Toyota Sienta which they removed all its four wheels and went away.
The wheels were valued at $800.
On count six, Moyo and Sibanda stole a battery from a vehicle that was parked at another house in Pelandaba valued at $105.
They broke the front passenger window before opening the bonnet.
On count seven, Moyo and Sibanda stole two complete wheels valued at $200 from a Toyota Cressida vehicle that was parked at a house in Pelandaba West on March 25 around 4AM.
On count eight and on March 25, they broke a passenger window of a vehicle that was parked at a house in Pelandaba West.
They opened the driver’s door and stole a hydraulic jack, a sjambok, a Bible, red tape measure, a car cellphone charger and went away.
The value of stolen property was $350.
Tatenda Dakwa prosecuted.
Online Reporter