An unrepentant thief doing community service at the Mutare District Court broke into the regional magistrate’s office and stole a mobile phone, before heading to a Pick n Pay supermarket where he was caught stealing from the retail giant.
Tanaka Svosvi of Chikanga Phase 2 in Mutare was found guilty of unlawful entry into the building when he appeared before Mutare District Magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahi, last week on Friday.
Ms Mazvita Kadinha, who led the state’s case, told the court that on February 20 at the Mutare Magistrate’s Court, Svosvi who was doing community service there broke into the regional magistrate’s office and stole a mobile phone.
Ms Kadinha said Sfosfi took advantage of the absence of regional judge Ms Fatekele Msiba and stole from her office.
Ms Msiba was in court when Sfosvi stole the mobile phone.
“Svosve opened the main entrance door leading to the reception and entered the reception area. While inside, Svosve opened another locked door that was not locked and entered the regional magistrate’s office. “He stole a Samsung S10 Plus mobile phone that was on “The table went unnoticed.”
Ms Msiba later discovered the crime and reported the matter to Mutare Central Police Station.
On the same day, Sfosfi was arrested by security guards at a Pick n Pay supermarket for shoplifting and was taken to Mutare Central Police Station.
Upon arrest, Sfosfi was searched and Ms Msiba’s mobile phone was found in his socks.
When Svosve was asked to do so, he failed to unlock the phone and the Arizona Sergeant on duty became suspicious.
She checked her records and noticed that Ms Msiba had made a report of a stolen phone earlier.
Sergeant Arizona called Ms Msiba to the police station and positively identified her stolen phone.
The total value of the stolen phone is $130 and was recovered.
Svosve was sentenced to 30 months in prison for theft from the regional judge’s office and 20 days in prison for theft from the TM Supermarket.
The four months previously suspended in the case for him performing community service were then activated.
He is now serving a prison sentence of 34 months and 20 days. Manica Post
