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Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
A PRISON officer in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly breaking into at least six premises and stealing goods worth about $5,000.

Kudzai Shambira, 22, based at Mhlahlandlela Regional office, was arrested last week after he sold a cellphone with a tracking device to a police officer.

Investigators swooped on the officer when he inserted his sim card.

Shambira allegedly had keys to most of the premises that he broke into.

He is being held at Khami Remand Prison and will appear in court today.

A source close to investigations, who preferred anonymity, said Shambira stole a number of gadgets at one of the Econet shops in the city.

The source said police suspected the break-in was an inside job as he had the keys that he used to open the doors.

“Shambira sold a cellphone that had a tracking system which led investigators to a police officer who then revealed that he had bought the phone from Shambira leading to his arrest. He had also been captured on CCTV while he was robbing the shop.

“He was arrested and is helping the police with investigations. So far, more cellphones, plasma television sets and other property have been recovered,” he said.

The source said Shambira revealed that he had delivered one of the plasma television sets that he had stolen from Dickies shop, to his mother in Harare.

“It’s alleged that at Dickies, it was an inside job again as Shambira had keys.”

Property worth about $3,000 has been recovered so far.

Matabeleland Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) spokesperson Garainashe Moyo confirmed that one of their officers had been arrested for several counts of theft.

“I can confirm that Kudzai Shambira was arrested for several counts of unlawful entry and theft. He’s in custody at Khami Prison and will be appearing in court soon.

“In the meantime, investigations are underway,” said Moyo.