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A HOMELESS man has been arrested after he broke into a home in one of Bulawayo’s affluent suburbs, lived inside for about two weeks and sold property worth more than $120 000 for a song, including brand new hardware which he sold as scrap metal.
Thamsanqa Ndlovu (22) reportedly broke into number 50 Clark Road, Suburbs, which the owner, Ismail Seedat, was using as a warehouse.
It is alleged that when Ndlovu realised that Seedat (52) was no longer coming to check on the property, he started selling hardware which was stored in the house.
He found himself in the hands of the police after Seedat made a report, resulting in his arrest.
Only property worth $12 000 was recovered.
Ndlovu appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate Miss Charity Maphosa and was charged with unlawful entry as defined in Section 131 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23 and theft as defined in Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and was remanded to tomorrow.
Miss Maphosa said although Ndlovu pleaded guilty to the charges, she wanted to give him a chance to go and re-check the quantity of the things he is accused of stealing.
“This is a long list Ndlovu and huge money is involved. Since you said you know how to read numbers, I will give you a copy of the things you are accused of stealing, go and check them,” ordered Miss Maphosa.
Ndlovu admitted that he stole all the listed goods, although he also revealed being unable to read.
Circumstances surrounding the case are that on 13 February at around 5pm, Seedat went to make routine checks at his warehouse, and he found everything intact with windows and doors closed.
Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo stated that Seedat’s property at the staff quarters and the main house were secure and nothing was amiss.
On the date unknown to the prosecutor but during the period extending from 13 May and 24 May and during Seedat’s absence, Ndlovu went to the warehouse where upon arrival he used an unknown object to break the gate lock and gained entry into the yard.
It is alleged that, while Ndlovu was in the yard, he used an unknown object to break open the door to the main house and the staff quarters.
After having noticed that no one was coming to check on the premises, Ndlovu moved into the main house.
Taking advantage of Seedat’s absence from the house, Ndlovu allegedly took 220 crates of assorted bicycle spares, two rolls of heavy duty wire, 10 pairs of steel scaffolding material, four 48kg gas bottles, 5kg gas bottles, 15 Victorian type doors, eight 9-inch steel door frames, 12 steel door frames and 20 assorted steel window frames.
He also stole five second-hand window frames, three sinks with stands, 40 built-in cupboard doors, 65 steel tracer legs, stationery steel cupboards, three French doors with glass, two multi-drawer steel cabinets, one delivery bicycle, five Mitchell and Johnson bird rottersery, 40 potato peelers, 500 hard hats and 10 bags of plastic bottle tops.
He also stole 1000 rubber chair ferrals, two steel trunks, six tables with steel legs, assorted scrap steel, three semi curve moulds, 5 000 steel clothes hangers, two garden rollers, one huge steel box , one oak corner unit, 40 boxes of ceramic tiles, assorted glass panes, three builders buckets, second hand office equipment and plumbing material.
Seedat only discorvered the offence on 24 May and made a report at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
On 26 May police detectives proceeded to Naisonale Investment situated at stand number 17038 Kelvin West, Bulawayo where 4 560kg of bicycle spares, hardware and plumbing material had been sold as scrap, of which some of the spares had already been smelted and were not recovered.
Seedat positively identified the recovered property as his.
On 22 May, detectives received a tip-off resulting in the arrest of Ndlovu.
Ndlovu led the detectives to the recovery of gas bottles, 33×48 kg gas bottles, three Victorian type doors, three steel door frames, one delivery bicycle, one French door, five built-in cupboard doors, two fitted kitchen cupboards and 12 boxes of tiles which were positively identified by Seedat.
Total value of stolen goods is $121 840 and property worth $12 000 was recovered.
Online Reporter