Housebreaking streak ends in dramatic foot chase

Two men from Lower Gweru, Midlands Province have been caged for four counts of unlawful entry after breaking into homes and stealing valuables between July and August 2024.
Marvelous Sibanda (23) and Israel Mpofu (40), went on a burglary spree, invading homes to plunder valuable possessions.
In a brazen act of thievery, the accused seized the perfect moment to strike, sneaking into the homestead on 8 August 2024, while the unsuspecting owner was just a stone’s throw away, gathering firewood.
With a duplicate key in hand, they slipped in and out unnoticed, leaving behind a trail of stolen valuables and cash.
The homeowner swiftly tracked down the thieves, catching one as he attempted to flee with a 10kg bag of mealie meal.
In a bold move, the homeowner apprehended the suspect, also retrieving his stolen cellphone from the thief’s pocket.
In an official statement on X, the police said, “The accused persons were found guilty on all four counts. The first accused person was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, of which 12 months were suspended for 5 years. 6 months were suspended on condition of restitution. The first accused person will spend an effective 12 months in prison, while the second accused person was handed 22 months imprisonment.”