News / Regional
Thief breaks into shop, steals and set it ablaze
08 Mar 2013 at 23:09hrs | Views
A Midlands man, 26, from Chiundura area in Vungu District recently broke into a local shop by gaining entry through the roof, stole some groceries and set the shop on fire, a Gweru magistrate has heard.
The amount of the stolen grocery items is $298 while the fire destroyed a refrigerator in the shop valued at $310, before the fire was doused.
The man, Farai Mzila of Milugwa Village under Chief Chiundura, appeared yesterday before Gweru magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ncube to answer charges of theft, unlawful entry and malicious damage to property.
He pleaded guilty to the counts of unlawful entry and theft and not guilty to the charge of malicious damage to property.
Ms Ncube found him guilty of the two counts of theft and unlawful entry and sentenced him to five years in prison.
However, Mzila will serve an effective four years in prison after 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
On the third count of setting property on fire, Ms Ncube remanded the matter to 4 April as she felt that there was need for the police to carry out further investigations.
For the State, Mr Munyaradzi Guvheya said on 10 August last year at around 4.25am, Mzila unlawfully entered into Sunset Store at Muchakata Business Centre owned by Mr Gibson Kuzesera.
Mr Guvheya said Mzila gained entry into the shop through the roof after removing one asbestos sheet.
He said Mzila went on to steal various grocery items with a total cost of $298.
The court heard that Mzila stole three jackets, six litres cooking oil, 4kg sugar, 12 by 100ml tootpaste tubes, 20 boxes of Pacific cigarettes, three tracksuits, five shirts, six pants, four Shumba maheu and 4kg flour.
Mr Guvheya told the court that after Mzila had stolen the groceries from the store he set fire to the shop and managed to damage a refrigerator with an estimated value of $310.
He said Mzila set the refrigerator on fire and left it to burn, disregarding the danger of exposing the whole shop to the risk of the fire.
Mr Kuzesera and his son later discovered the break in and the burnt refrigerator. He reported the matter to the police who attended the scene.
The police later carried out some investigations and unearthed evidence that implicated Mzila leading to the man's arrest.
The amount of the stolen grocery items is $298 while the fire destroyed a refrigerator in the shop valued at $310, before the fire was doused.
The man, Farai Mzila of Milugwa Village under Chief Chiundura, appeared yesterday before Gweru magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ncube to answer charges of theft, unlawful entry and malicious damage to property.
He pleaded guilty to the counts of unlawful entry and theft and not guilty to the charge of malicious damage to property.
Ms Ncube found him guilty of the two counts of theft and unlawful entry and sentenced him to five years in prison.
However, Mzila will serve an effective four years in prison after 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
On the third count of setting property on fire, Ms Ncube remanded the matter to 4 April as she felt that there was need for the police to carry out further investigations.
For the State, Mr Munyaradzi Guvheya said on 10 August last year at around 4.25am, Mzila unlawfully entered into Sunset Store at Muchakata Business Centre owned by Mr Gibson Kuzesera.
Mr Guvheya said Mzila gained entry into the shop through the roof after removing one asbestos sheet.
He said Mzila went on to steal various grocery items with a total cost of $298.
The court heard that Mzila stole three jackets, six litres cooking oil, 4kg sugar, 12 by 100ml tootpaste tubes, 20 boxes of Pacific cigarettes, three tracksuits, five shirts, six pants, four Shumba maheu and 4kg flour.
Mr Guvheya told the court that after Mzila had stolen the groceries from the store he set fire to the shop and managed to damage a refrigerator with an estimated value of $310.
He said Mzila set the refrigerator on fire and left it to burn, disregarding the danger of exposing the whole shop to the risk of the fire.
Mr Kuzesera and his son later discovered the break in and the burnt refrigerator. He reported the matter to the police who attended the scene.
The police later carried out some investigations and unearthed evidence that implicated Mzila leading to the man's arrest.
Source - TC
