Chronicle Editor
Lesley Chikudo, [email protected]
A 35-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man was sentenced to an effective 2 years in jail and ordered to pay US$270 as restitution after he broke into a house in Gwabalanda suburb and stole property worth US$400.
Khumbulani Dube of Mzilikazi Suburb was convicted of unlawful entry and theft by Western Commonage Resident Magistrate Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe.
He stole a car battery, car, radio, spare wheel, wheel cover, USB, and wheelbarrow and drained 25 litres of petrol from the car.
The court heard that from the value stolen, the 63-year-old complainant only recovered US$130.
He was sentenced to an effective two years imprisonment.
In passing the sentence, the court noted that the offender’s conduct was deplorable as he violated the privacy of the complainant.
“This is a planned offence as the offender took advantage of the time whereby everyone was asleep and broke into the house owned by an old lady, unable to defend herself. His conduct reveals that he is aware of what he is doing. Cases of theft and unlawful entry are now prevalent. There is a need for general and personal deterrence to send a clear message to the would-be offenders that the law does not tolerate such crimes. A jail term without the option of a fine will meet the justice of this case,” ruled Mr Chikwekwe.
According to the State’s case, as presented by Ms Audrey Kufandikani, the incident occurred sometime in October this year.
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