News / National
5 cars in two hours thief jailed
27 Jun 2016 at 06:51hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO man has been sentenced to four years in jail for breaking into five cars in two hours and stealing property worth about $600. Clifford Paul Shoko (26) of Cowdray Park suburb targeted parked vehicles in Pumula North and East, in a spree beginning at 10PM and ending around midnight on June 12 this year.
Shoko, a court heard, colluded with Ngqabutho Phakathi who is still at large, to commit the crimes. Western commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu convicted Shoko on his own plea of guilty to five counts of theft and unlawful entry.
Shoko will serve an effective 39 months in prison after nine months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. The prosecutor, Mr Keneth Shava said on June 12 this year, Shoko went to a house in Pumula North at around 10PM and broke into Clive Gwekwerere's car which was parked in the yard and stole the vehicle's battery.
Police recovered the battery when they arrested Shoko on June 17. Soon after that, Shoko proceeded to another house in the same neighbourhood where he broke into Alex Chakauya's parked car. He stole a black diary, GPS instrument, and a mine registration certificate.
The property worth $290 has not been recovered. Towards midnight, the prosecutor said, Shoko was at it again. This time he scaled a precast wall and broke into Try Ndebele's Nissan Sunny in Pumula East.
"He stole a Gtel cellphone, LG car radio, and a charger. The goods valued at $250 were recovered when he was arrested. "Shoko proceeded to a house in Pumula North and scaled a precast wall and entered the yard, smashed a window of a car which was parked inside. He was caught by the owner before he stole anything and fled the scene," said Mr Shava.
On the same date, Shoko proceeded to another house in the same suburb and stole from another parked vehicle. The court heard police arrested him following a tip-off.
Shoko, a court heard, colluded with Ngqabutho Phakathi who is still at large, to commit the crimes. Western commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu convicted Shoko on his own plea of guilty to five counts of theft and unlawful entry.
Shoko will serve an effective 39 months in prison after nine months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. The prosecutor, Mr Keneth Shava said on June 12 this year, Shoko went to a house in Pumula North at around 10PM and broke into Clive Gwekwerere's car which was parked in the yard and stole the vehicle's battery.
The property worth $290 has not been recovered. Towards midnight, the prosecutor said, Shoko was at it again. This time he scaled a precast wall and broke into Try Ndebele's Nissan Sunny in Pumula East.
"He stole a Gtel cellphone, LG car radio, and a charger. The goods valued at $250 were recovered when he was arrested. "Shoko proceeded to a house in Pumula North and scaled a precast wall and entered the yard, smashed a window of a car which was parked inside. He was caught by the owner before he stole anything and fled the scene," said Mr Shava.
On the same date, Shoko proceeded to another house in the same suburb and stole from another parked vehicle. The court heard police arrested him following a tip-off.
Source - chronicle
