Grapes thief captured on CCTV

Moreblessing Ncube

A BULAWAYO man’s itchy fingers led him straight from a juicy temptation to the courtroom after he was busted for “harvesting” three boxes of grapes from a parked car in daylight.

Eshibeck Tafu (36) of Bulawayo found himself in sour trouble after CCTV cameras caught him helping himself to grapes worth US$120 before casually strolling away like a supermarket customer who had already paid.

Tafu appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Barbara Phiri who squeezed him hard with a 10-month jail sentence. Five months were suspended for five years, while the remaining five months were conditionally suspended if he pays back the US$120 before May 28.

According to prosecutor Arnold Mudekunye, the fruity drama occurred when car owner Abraham Chiguriwa parked his vehicle in the city centre, unaware that a grape-hungry prowler was lurking nearby.

The court heard that Tafu quietly approached the vehicle, yanked open the door and swiftly grabbed three boxes of grapes before vanishing from the scene.

Unfortunately for him, modern technology does not sleep.

CCTV cameras recorded every move, from the sneaky approach to the getaway walk that looked more like a man returning from the market than a suspect fleeing a crime scene.

Police did not even need to break a sweat hunting him down. The footage allegedly served the suspect on a silver platter.

“The value stolen was US$120 and nothing was recovered,” the court heard.

The matter was reported to Zimbabwe Republic Police at Bulawayo Central Police Station, leading to Tafu’s swift arrest.