Chronicle Editor
Diana Baloyi Moyo,@dianamoyo.gmail.com.zw
A HOUSEBREAKER stole a cell phone and a jacket and later used the cell phone as pay-forward collateral to board a bus.
He was arrested after the complainant made a call to their phone, which was answered by the bus conductor, who made a report leading to his arrest.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said: “On the 29th of June 2024, at around 2300 hours in Mbizo Kwekwe, the accused person forced open the door and entered the house whilst the complainant was sleeping and took an Itel A70 cell phone and a black jacket and went away unnoticed. The complainant discovered that her belongings were missing the following morning and reported the matter to the police. That same morning the accused person boarded a bus from Kwekwe to Gweru and gave the conductor the Itel 70 cell phone and promised to pay the bus fare in Gweru since he had no money at that time.
“The accused person was apprehended after the bus conductor became suspicious and alerted the police officers in Gweru after receiving a phone call on the Itel from the complainant who revealed that the cell phone belonged to her. The value of the stolen property is US$115 and only US$100 was recovered.
“The accused person was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment of which 4 months were suspended for 5 years. The remaining 10 months were suspended on condition that the accused person perform 350 hours of community service,” said the (NPAZ)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter