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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
OLD habits die hard!
A day after they were sentenced to community service for shoplifting, two of the six Bulawayo women convicted of stealing from a supermarket operating as a syndicate, were at it again!They were nicked after stealing six hair pieces worth $45 and sticking them between their thighs, a magistrate heard.
Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube heard how on New Year’s Eve, Thandiwe Shamiso Mpofu, 19, of New Lobengula and Tutsirai Barbra Ncube, 23, of Old Pumula teamed up and went to Choppies Supermarket at Nkulumane Complex disguised as shoppers and stole six hair pieces.
Mpofu and Ncube together with four other accomplices had on the previous day been convicted by the same magistrate on their own pleas of guilty to shoplifting and sentenced to six months in jail.
However, three months were suspended for five years on condition that they did not within that period commit a similar offence. The remaining three months were further suspended on condition that they commit 105 hours of community service, which they were supposed to start yesterday.
Prosecuting, Frank Ncube told the court that on the evening of December 31, 2013, Mpofu and Ncube teamed up and visited the supermarket.
Soon after entering the shop, Ncube and Mpofu first took a fleeting look around the building apparently to make sure that the security guards were not on the lookout.
Satisfied that no one was watching them, the two women quickly picked six hair pieces worth $45 and thrust them in between their thighs.
Lawrence Ndebele, a security guard, who had placed the two shoplifters under surveillance, intercepted them just as they tried to walk out of the shop without paying. They were searched leading to the discovery of the stolen items hidden in their panties.
The two suspects were taken to the police station leading to their arrest.
Asked by the magistrate why they stole, the unfazed women responded: “We wanted to sell the items so that we could raise money for food.”
Dube shot back: “It does not make sense. You were here in this court on Monday facing similar charges and I convicted you. Surprisingly before you had even started to perform community service you decided to go back and commit the same offence.”
Ncube and Mpofu were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to shoplifting. They were remanded in custody to today for sentence.
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