Duo up for 26 counts of housebreaking

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Police in Beitbridge have smashed another housebreaking and theft syndicate and arrested two men linked to 26 cases of unlawful entry and theft of property worth $9 000. The duo is believed to be part of a racket targeting houses in the low density suburbs in the border town.

Another member of the syndicate is still on the run.

The two suspects, Tarirai Tizirai (28) of Budiriro in Harare, but of no fixed abode in Beitbridge and Briliant Mkosi (24) of 3027 Garikayi houses in Dulibadzimu, were arrested at the weekend. They were not asked to plead to 26 charges of unlawful entry and theft when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Miss Gloria Takundwa.

They were both remanded in custody to November 20.

The prosecutor, Mr Llyod Mupfungidza told the court that the duo committed the 26 offences between July 13 and November 4, while in the company of an accomplice known only as Mhuru who is still at large.

He said in that period the three would, in the early hours of the morning, break into several houses in the low density suburbs using either iron bars or duplicate keys.

After gaining access into the houses they would steal an assortment of goods including 15 television sets, laptops, cellphones, electricity generators, radios, satellite decoders, clothes, groceries, and money, among other things.

He said during their ‘operation’ they broke into 13 houses in the low density suburbs including those belonging to police officers.

The suspects stole property with a cumulative value of $9 000 and only items worth $3 620 were recovered.

They were arrested on November 4 and after interrogations they led police to several houses which they had broken into.

The incident comes a few weeks after two other notorious housebreakers who were arrested last year after 10 years on the police wanted list, were jailed for 22 and 20 years.

Patrick Mulambo alias Ngorima and Farai Mutomba were arrested in October last year in connection with 24 counts of housebreaking and theft.