Serial housebreaker finally arrested

A serial thief who broke into 24 houses in Gweru's Guinea Fowl area and stole household goods worth nearly $4,000 was yesterday sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

Tawanda Garira, 25, of Plot Number 150 Divide Farm, Guinea Fowl, was convicted of housebreaking and theft by Gweru magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

Garira was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison but will however serve four years after six months of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Plot holders in the area effected a citizen's arrest and handed over Garira to the police.

Prosecuting Gracious Rongai told the court that on an unknown date but during the month of September last year Garira went to Lindiwe Nyoni's house and broke the door key to gain entry.

While inside the house, Garira took a 12-volt battery, solar panel, two radios, three sets of dinner plates and three pairs of jean trousers and skirts.

The court heard that during the same month Garira was at it again when he broke into Vongai Tibugare's bedroom hut and stole goods ranging from blankets, pots and dinner plates.

During the night of September 16, Garira proceeded to Emma Tatira's homestead where he took 14 buckets of maize, spoons, knives, forks and a Nokia cellphone handset.

Rongai said between September 26 and 29, Garira went to Kenwell Chaputika's house and stole a 21-watt solar panel, a CD radio player and a double bed.

The court heard that Garira applied the same modus operandi on 20 other plotholders and stole several household goods and farming equipments.

Luck ran out for Garira on November 29, last year when he was caught red-handed at Ferdinand Mudarikwa's plot and a citizen's arrest was effected on him. Other plotholders quickly joined in and force- marched Garira to the police station.

Rongai said Garira's victims positively identified their goods which were stashed at his homestead.

The total value of the stolen property was $3,872.