News / Local
Rowdy tout arrested
26 Jun 2012 at 09:02hrs | Views
POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a tout who had terrorised commuters at the "illegal" pick-up point along 6th Avenue where he would steal their property as they board kombis.
Jethro Nyoni (35), of 30016/18 Entumbane, was "sold out" by his colleagues who were reportedly fed up by his rowdy behaviour at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street where kombis that use Luveve Road load passengers.
Nyoni would tout for passengers while at the same time assisting them to load their luggage into kombis and in the process steal their property like cellphones and groceries.
He was arrested on Wednesday after being set up by his colleagues after he stole a cellphone from Mrs Sithembiso Jones, of Number 18 Fervtree Road, Thorngrove.
Nyoni was on Friday arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Shepherd Mjanja facing a charge of theft.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty and was remanded in custody to today for sentence.
Nyoni told the court that he wanted to sell the phone to raise money for his mother's medication.
For the State, Mr Masimba Saruwaka said on 9 June at about 6pm, Mrs Jones was waiting for kombis to Thorngrove.
Nyoni, who was touting for customers, approached her and offered to help load her luggage into the kombi.
He carried the bag and put into one of the stationary kombis while Mrs Jones followed behind.
While Mrs Jones was about to board Nyoni stole a phone which was in the front pocket of her jean trousers.
He disappeared soon after that and Mrs Jones noticed that her phone was missing when she was already in the kombi.
Another tout, who witnessed the incident, told her the phone had been stolen by Nyoni.
The witness offered to alert her once Nyoni returned to the scene.
On 18 June at about 5pm, Nyoni was touting at the same spot and the witness phoned Mrs Jones who then alerted the police leading to his arrest.
The phone, an MTN valued at $450 was not recovered.
Jethro Nyoni (35), of 30016/18 Entumbane, was "sold out" by his colleagues who were reportedly fed up by his rowdy behaviour at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street where kombis that use Luveve Road load passengers.
Nyoni would tout for passengers while at the same time assisting them to load their luggage into kombis and in the process steal their property like cellphones and groceries.
He was arrested on Wednesday after being set up by his colleagues after he stole a cellphone from Mrs Sithembiso Jones, of Number 18 Fervtree Road, Thorngrove.
Nyoni was on Friday arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Shepherd Mjanja facing a charge of theft.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty and was remanded in custody to today for sentence.
Nyoni told the court that he wanted to sell the phone to raise money for his mother's medication.
For the State, Mr Masimba Saruwaka said on 9 June at about 6pm, Mrs Jones was waiting for kombis to Thorngrove.
He carried the bag and put into one of the stationary kombis while Mrs Jones followed behind.
While Mrs Jones was about to board Nyoni stole a phone which was in the front pocket of her jean trousers.
He disappeared soon after that and Mrs Jones noticed that her phone was missing when she was already in the kombi.
Another tout, who witnessed the incident, told her the phone had been stolen by Nyoni.
The witness offered to alert her once Nyoni returned to the scene.
On 18 June at about 5pm, Nyoni was touting at the same spot and the witness phoned Mrs Jones who then alerted the police leading to his arrest.
The phone, an MTN valued at $450 was not recovered.
Source - TC
