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Vitalis Kavele Court Reporter
A bag snatcher who stole US$500 from a Mupedzanhamo Flea Market vendor on Christmas Day went on a wild spending and drinking spree until he was spotted and arrested at a Magaba Complex bar. Lovemore Mupaya of Block 3B24 Nenyere Flats, Mbare, was only found with US$75 when he was arrested.
He pleaded guilty to theft charges before Mbare magistrate Ms Shelly Zvenyika and was remanded to Friday for sentencing.
Prosecutor Mr Vincent Chikerema told the court that on Christmas Day, Mupaya approached Tendai Mandishona at her flea market stand and pretended that he wanted to buy clothes for his wife, asking her to try them on as she was similar in build to his fictitious wife. Ms Mandishona put her bag under the table and modelled clothes. Eventually Mupaya chose a skirt and as Ms Mandishona was changing, he grabbed the handbag and disappeared.
Ms Mandishona, finding her customer gone, started looking for her handbag, panicked and alerted other vendors.
On Boxing Day when Mupaya was spotted at a bar at Magaba Complex while on a spending spree; a gang of vendors grabbed him and took him to the police station.
When questioned, Mupaya said he had spent the loot on beer.
Online Reporter