House breaker jailed for eight years

thief jailed

A man who escaped from police custody by jumping out of a moving vehicle was arrested after breaking into a house in Trenance,

Kelvin Ndlovu (30) of Block 9/872 Mpopoma pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and theft and escaping from lawful custody before Bulawayo magistrate, Mrs Thobekile Mkhosana-Matimbe.

He was sentenced to eight years in jail for unlawful entry and theft of which two years were suspended for five years on condition that he is not within that period convicted of a similar offence.

Mrs Mkhosana-Matimbe sentenced him to two years in jail for escaping from lawful custody and wholly suspended the sentence for five years on condition of good behaviour.

In mitigation, Ndlovu pleaded with the court to exercise leniency on him since his wife is expecting. He said he stole because of temptation. In passing sentence, the magistrate noted that the offence of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft was now prevalent, adding that there was need to protect members of society by passing deterrent sentences.

The prosecutor, Mr Mazhar Petkar, told the court that on 27 October last year, Ndlovu broke into a flat at the corner of Fort Street and 14th Avenue and stole property worth Z$98 million, which included cellphone handsets, electronic gadgets, meat, mealie meal and Mazoe Orange Crush drink.

On 9 February this year, Ndlovu was arrested for a case of unlawful entry into premises and theft and was detained at Bulawayo Central Police station cells.

The following day, three detectives booked him out from the holding cells so that he could assist them with the recovery of some property, which he had confessed to being in possession of. They went to a house in Suburbs where some stolen goods were recovered.

On their way back to Bulawayo Central Police station, near Eveline High School, Ndlovu jumped out of the moving police vehicle and fled into the bush.
On 10 October this year, Ndlovu broke into a house in Trenance where he stole property worth US$950, which included a mountain bike.

The complainant arrested Ndlovu on 6 November after he saw him riding the stolen bicycle. Property worth US$500 was recovered through his indications