News / National
Daring thieves break into army barracks
25 Jul 2016 at 02:04hrs | Views
THREE former convicts who were released from Mutimurefu Prisons in Masvingo under the Presidential amnesty in May, are back in jail for stealing army uniforms and other property at 4 Infantry Brigade.
In the barracks, the three stole from five houses belonging to Mr Isaac Dembere, Ms Cathrine Mukaro, Ms Mollen Mararano, Ms Cecilia Simendi and Ms Maud Kufa at night sometime last month.
Knowledge Rugeje (26) of Bikita, Trust Mataruse Ncube (24) of Gokwe and Martin Konisani (28) of Zaka were convicted on their own plea of guilty to theft when they appeared before Masvingo provincial magistrate Mr Langton Ndokera.
The three, who were serving between one and three years in jail for unlawful entry and theft before being pardoned on May 25, were handed five year sentences for three counts of unlawful entry and theft.
Sentencing the trio, Mr Ndokera said they were so daring that they disregarded the security at the military establishment to steal.
"The fact that you stole from a secured place shows that you are notorious and daring criminals. You disregarded the security at the military area and proceeded to steal property including army uniforms which in the court's view you intended to use in further committing crime. The fact that you committed crime hardly a year after you benefited from Presidential amnesty shows that you are not repentant," said Mr Ndokera.
Prosecuting, Ms Nancy Makuvise told the court that sometime last month at night, the three went to the army barracks armed with pliers.
"On June 29 at around 11.50PM Rugeje, Ncube and Konisani proceeded to 4 Brigade where upon arrival they cut open the security fence using pliers. The trio gained entry and proceeded to the army barracks and first reached House Number 49 before getting away with one army uniform.
"The three also took away a wrist watch, army camouflage trousers, one screw driver, a wallet containing $175, a national identity card and ZNA identity card," she said.
Ms Makuvise said Rugeje, Ncube and Konisani also took away an army uniform, a pair of white shoes and black trousers belonging to Mr Dembere.
During the same night, the trio went to House number 50 where they took away a 5230 Nokia cellphone, one black trousers, tablet cellphone, 500g blue bird margarine and 750ml Red Label whisky, all belonging to Ms Kufa.
They then went to House Number 40 and stole a 19 inch television set and a grey winter jacket belonging to Ms Simendi.
They proceeded to House Number 42 where they stole a laptop battery, handbag, white church garment, and jacket belonging to Ms Mukaro before moving to Number 38 owned by Ms Mararano.
While at the house they took away a pair of brown shoes, packet of jiggies, satchel bag, 5kgs beef and Nokia Lumia cellphone.
The five complainants discovered that their property had been stolen the following day and made a report at Masvingo Central Police.
Investigations led to a house in Zvishavane's Mandava Township where they discovered all the stolen goods. $295 was also recovered.
In the barracks, the three stole from five houses belonging to Mr Isaac Dembere, Ms Cathrine Mukaro, Ms Mollen Mararano, Ms Cecilia Simendi and Ms Maud Kufa at night sometime last month.
Knowledge Rugeje (26) of Bikita, Trust Mataruse Ncube (24) of Gokwe and Martin Konisani (28) of Zaka were convicted on their own plea of guilty to theft when they appeared before Masvingo provincial magistrate Mr Langton Ndokera.
The three, who were serving between one and three years in jail for unlawful entry and theft before being pardoned on May 25, were handed five year sentences for three counts of unlawful entry and theft.
Sentencing the trio, Mr Ndokera said they were so daring that they disregarded the security at the military establishment to steal.
"The fact that you stole from a secured place shows that you are notorious and daring criminals. You disregarded the security at the military area and proceeded to steal property including army uniforms which in the court's view you intended to use in further committing crime. The fact that you committed crime hardly a year after you benefited from Presidential amnesty shows that you are not repentant," said Mr Ndokera.
Prosecuting, Ms Nancy Makuvise told the court that sometime last month at night, the three went to the army barracks armed with pliers.
"On June 29 at around 11.50PM Rugeje, Ncube and Konisani proceeded to 4 Brigade where upon arrival they cut open the security fence using pliers. The trio gained entry and proceeded to the army barracks and first reached House Number 49 before getting away with one army uniform.
"The three also took away a wrist watch, army camouflage trousers, one screw driver, a wallet containing $175, a national identity card and ZNA identity card," she said.
Ms Makuvise said Rugeje, Ncube and Konisani also took away an army uniform, a pair of white shoes and black trousers belonging to Mr Dembere.
During the same night, the trio went to House number 50 where they took away a 5230 Nokia cellphone, one black trousers, tablet cellphone, 500g blue bird margarine and 750ml Red Label whisky, all belonging to Ms Kufa.
They then went to House Number 40 and stole a 19 inch television set and a grey winter jacket belonging to Ms Simendi.
They proceeded to House Number 42 where they stole a laptop battery, handbag, white church garment, and jacket belonging to Ms Mukaro before moving to Number 38 owned by Ms Mararano.
While at the house they took away a pair of brown shoes, packet of jiggies, satchel bag, 5kgs beef and Nokia Lumia cellphone.
The five complainants discovered that their property had been stolen the following day and made a report at Masvingo Central Police.
Investigations led to a house in Zvishavane's Mandava Township where they discovered all the stolen goods. $295 was also recovered.
Source - chronicle
