News / Local
Nust student gets 6 years behind bars for stealing from fellow students
12 Oct 2014 at 07:20hrs | Views
The Journalism and Media Studies offices student was
A Glen Norah man, Tawanda Gwatidzo, 30, was last Wednesday convicted of theft and sentenced to six years in prison for stealing four laptops, a Samsung Galaxy S4, a memory stick and $5 from his fellow National University of Science and Technology (Nust) students.
Gwatidzo appeared before Mrs Charity Maphosa on charges of unlawful entry and theft.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Gwatidzo was arrested after Nust conducted forensic investigations to apprehend the serial thief. Fingerprints were obtained from office doors where laptops were stolen and they matched those of Gwatidzo.
Prosecuting, Mr Martin Nleya told the court how on 2 June 2014 at the Nust's Journalism and Media Studies offices, Gwatidzo unlawfully and intentionally entered into the office belonging to Nonhlanhla Mbikwa with an intention to steal.
"Gwatidzo entered Nonhlanhla's office without her permission. He proceeded to steal one Acer Aspire laptop," said Nleya.
Furthermore, according to the State, Gwatidzo continued on a spree of theft entering another cubicle on 24 June 2014 belonging to Buhati Lukuta where he stole a Toshiba laptop, a 16 gigabyte memory stick and $5.
Three days later on 27 June 2014 Gwatidzo moved to the university's insurance department where he stole another laptop HP 655 and a Samsung Galaxy S4 belonging to David Chimsitu.
On his last count of theft before he was arrested, Gwatidzo entered Nust theatre where he stole an Acer laptop belonging to another student, Advise Mpofu.
The value of the property stolen was $2 050 and value of the property recovered is $979.
However, Gwatidzo will serve an effective two years after four years were suspended on condition that he does not commit the same offence in five years.
Gwatidzo appeared before Mrs Charity Maphosa on charges of unlawful entry and theft.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Gwatidzo was arrested after Nust conducted forensic investigations to apprehend the serial thief. Fingerprints were obtained from office doors where laptops were stolen and they matched those of Gwatidzo.
Prosecuting, Mr Martin Nleya told the court how on 2 June 2014 at the Nust's Journalism and Media Studies offices, Gwatidzo unlawfully and intentionally entered into the office belonging to Nonhlanhla Mbikwa with an intention to steal.
"Gwatidzo entered Nonhlanhla's office without her permission. He proceeded to steal one Acer Aspire laptop," said Nleya.
Furthermore, according to the State, Gwatidzo continued on a spree of theft entering another cubicle on 24 June 2014 belonging to Buhati Lukuta where he stole a Toshiba laptop, a 16 gigabyte memory stick and $5.
Three days later on 27 June 2014 Gwatidzo moved to the university's insurance department where he stole another laptop HP 655 and a Samsung Galaxy S4 belonging to David Chimsitu.
On his last count of theft before he was arrested, Gwatidzo entered Nust theatre where he stole an Acer laptop belonging to another student, Advise Mpofu.
The value of the property stolen was $2 050 and value of the property recovered is $979.
However, Gwatidzo will serve an effective two years after four years were suspended on condition that he does not commit the same offence in five years.
Source - Sunday News
