News / National
Woman shoplifter pulls a shocker
09 Mar 2019 at 06:54hrs | Views
A 38-year-old Mutare woman left workers at a local wholesaler stunned after she stole heavy duty vehicle batteries which she unbelievably stashed under her armpits and walked out of the shop unnoticed.
The habitual shop lifter was only apprehended on the second attempt after she had used the same modus operandi to steal another big battery.
Rumbidzai Mutonhori was subsequently arrested and detectives later discovered that the criminal, who was working with two other accomplices, had hit three shops on the same day in an hour.
She appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture, facing three counts of theft as defined in Section 113 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Mutonhori did not waste the court's time as she pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Ms Kuture sentenced her to 11 months behind bars. The court heard that Mutonhori of House Number 1120 Hobhouse committed the crimes with two other accomplices who were driving a red Honda Fit.
After stealing from shops, the suspects loaded the loot in the vehicle and sped off.
Mr Brighton Shamuyarira prosecuted.
Circumstances were that on February 22 from about 3pm, Mutonhori and her accomplices moved around Mutare Central Business District stealing from supermarkets and wholesalers using a hired Honda Fit.
The court heard that the three suspects kicked off their looting spree at Simrac Supermarket where they managed to steal a number of groceries.
Mr Shamuyarira told the court how the suspects hit Choppies Supermarket at 3.10pm and stole packed beef products.
Mutonhori hid the stolen items under her armpits and concealed the loot by covering it with a baby towel.
She walked past security check points unnoticed.
Ten minutes later the gang went to Metro Peech and Browne Wholesalers where they stole Exide batteries.
Mutonhori managed to steal one battery but her luck ran out on the second attempt. Upon her arrest, the other two accomplices who were seated in the car sped off.
Mutonhori was in 2016 convicted of a similar offence and was given a suspended sentence.
The 30 days which were set aside in 2016 were duly added to the new sentence since she failed to contain her criminal habits for five years.
The habitual shop lifter was only apprehended on the second attempt after she had used the same modus operandi to steal another big battery.
Rumbidzai Mutonhori was subsequently arrested and detectives later discovered that the criminal, who was working with two other accomplices, had hit three shops on the same day in an hour.
She appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture, facing three counts of theft as defined in Section 113 (1)(a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Mutonhori did not waste the court's time as she pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Ms Kuture sentenced her to 11 months behind bars. The court heard that Mutonhori of House Number 1120 Hobhouse committed the crimes with two other accomplices who were driving a red Honda Fit.
After stealing from shops, the suspects loaded the loot in the vehicle and sped off.
Mr Brighton Shamuyarira prosecuted.
The court heard that the three suspects kicked off their looting spree at Simrac Supermarket where they managed to steal a number of groceries.
Mr Shamuyarira told the court how the suspects hit Choppies Supermarket at 3.10pm and stole packed beef products.
Mutonhori hid the stolen items under her armpits and concealed the loot by covering it with a baby towel.
She walked past security check points unnoticed.
Ten minutes later the gang went to Metro Peech and Browne Wholesalers where they stole Exide batteries.
Mutonhori managed to steal one battery but her luck ran out on the second attempt. Upon her arrest, the other two accomplices who were seated in the car sped off.
Mutonhori was in 2016 convicted of a similar offence and was given a suspended sentence.
The 30 days which were set aside in 2016 were duly added to the new sentence since she failed to contain her criminal habits for five years.
Source - manicapost
