News / Regional
illegal pickup point haven for Gweru thieves
04 Jan 2013 at 23:42hrs | Views
THIEVES in Gweru are now targeting people boarding lifts to Shurugwi at the illegal pickup point near the Roman Catholic Church's Cathedral Hall where they steal commuters' belongings, a Gweru magistrate heard.
It emerged during the appearance in court of Tichaona Madzima (32) of 2019 Ascot Infill in Gweru that many commuters were losing their cash and property to thieves at the spot especially at night.
Madzima was brought before provincial magistrate Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa following his arrest by police for stealing a satchel from a Shurugwi-bound man who was waiting for transport to the Chrome mining town at about 8pm.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Another three months were suspended on condition that Madzima pays a restitution of $103 to the complainant before 21 January.
The satchel which was stolen from Mr Tinashe Motsi had property valued at $203. The stolen property included a cellphone, which was later recovered.
For the State, Mr Justos Makwena told the court that on the day in question Mr Motsi was at the Cathedral pickup point trying to get lifts to his plot in Shurugwi.
He said Mr Motsi failed to get transport going his way.
The court heard that the complainant decided to sit down and rest for a while before he could start flagging down lifts again.
Mr Makwena said as Mr Motsi was seated, he started feeling drowsy and eventually fell asleep.
The court heard that Mr Motsi finally woke up and realised that his satchel was missing.
Mr Makwena said the complainant noticed that his cell phone had been stolen as well.
He said Mr Motsi decided to go to his father's shop to inform him about what had happened.
Mr Makwena said on his way Motsi saw Madzima holding his Nokia E59 cellphone and immediately confronted him.
He said Madzima denied having stolen the cellphone and satchel and said he had been given the cellphone by a friend.
The court was told that Madzima told Mr Motsi that he could show him where the man was.
They started walking towards the direction of National Foods premises.
Mr Makwena said Mr Motsi felt it was not proper for them to continue walking alone in the night without first engaging the police.
He said he then asked for his phone from Madzima who then silently handed it over without arguing.
Mr Makwena said Madzima immediately ran away after handing over the phone.
He said when Mr Motsi recovered his cellphone he went to report the theft at Gweru Central Police Station.
The court heard that a couple of days after the incident had happened, Mr Motsi was again at the same bus stop looking for transport to Shurugwi when he saw Madzima pushing a cart towards the bus stop.
Mr Makwena said Mr Motsi ran to Gweru Police Station to alert the police.
He said as Mr Motsi was approaching the bus stop, Madzima spotted him and the police officers and attempted to run away.
The police managed to arrest him.
It emerged during the appearance in court of Tichaona Madzima (32) of 2019 Ascot Infill in Gweru that many commuters were losing their cash and property to thieves at the spot especially at night.
Madzima was brought before provincial magistrate Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa following his arrest by police for stealing a satchel from a Shurugwi-bound man who was waiting for transport to the Chrome mining town at about 8pm.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Another three months were suspended on condition that Madzima pays a restitution of $103 to the complainant before 21 January.
The satchel which was stolen from Mr Tinashe Motsi had property valued at $203. The stolen property included a cellphone, which was later recovered.
For the State, Mr Justos Makwena told the court that on the day in question Mr Motsi was at the Cathedral pickup point trying to get lifts to his plot in Shurugwi.
He said Mr Motsi failed to get transport going his way.
The court heard that the complainant decided to sit down and rest for a while before he could start flagging down lifts again.
Mr Makwena said as Mr Motsi was seated, he started feeling drowsy and eventually fell asleep.
The court heard that Mr Motsi finally woke up and realised that his satchel was missing.
Mr Makwena said the complainant noticed that his cell phone had been stolen as well.
He said Mr Motsi decided to go to his father's shop to inform him about what had happened.
Mr Makwena said on his way Motsi saw Madzima holding his Nokia E59 cellphone and immediately confronted him.
He said Madzima denied having stolen the cellphone and satchel and said he had been given the cellphone by a friend.
The court was told that Madzima told Mr Motsi that he could show him where the man was.
They started walking towards the direction of National Foods premises.
Mr Makwena said Mr Motsi felt it was not proper for them to continue walking alone in the night without first engaging the police.
He said he then asked for his phone from Madzima who then silently handed it over without arguing.
Mr Makwena said Madzima immediately ran away after handing over the phone.
He said when Mr Motsi recovered his cellphone he went to report the theft at Gweru Central Police Station.
The court heard that a couple of days after the incident had happened, Mr Motsi was again at the same bus stop looking for transport to Shurugwi when he saw Madzima pushing a cart towards the bus stop.
Mr Makwena said Mr Motsi ran to Gweru Police Station to alert the police.
He said as Mr Motsi was approaching the bus stop, Madzima spotted him and the police officers and attempted to run away.
The police managed to arrest him.
Source - TC
