Zimpapers Logo

Emily Mbewe Court Reporter
A daring Mpopoma High School pupil allegedly “invaded” Mabutweni police camp in Bulawayo and stole two bicycles and broke them with the help of his two brothers for parts which they used to fix their own bicycle.

The boy, 14, is said to have gained entry into Mabutweni police camp and stole the bicycles which were on the verandas of two different houses on different occasions.

Police said the first bicycle belonged to Agreement Mapenya.

After stealing the bicycles the boy allegedly gave them to his two elder brothers aged 19, and 21, who then dismantled them and fitted the parts on their own bicycle.

The three siblings were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate, Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze to answer a theft charge.

The matter was placed off remand because the boy is a juvenile.

“The matter will be placed off remand because the co-accused is a juvenile, the probation officer’s report is outstanding and the court will therefore proceed by way of summons,” said Msipa-Marondedze.

Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on May 2 at a time unknown to the prosecutor, the boy took a bicycle that was on the veranda of a house inside Mabutweni police camp to his place of residence.

“His two brothers took parts off the bicycle and fitted them on theirs,” said Mageza.

He told the court that on May 24 the boy stole the second bicycle from a different house within the same police camp. Mageza said the teenager surrendered the bicycle to his elder siblings who again dismantled it and used the parts to repair their own bicycle.

The court heard that the 21-year-old was caught by some police officers on patrol riding their bicycle which they had fitted with the stolen parts.

Mageza said the police officers identified the stolen bicycle parts leading to the arrest of the three brothers.

The value of the property stolen is $400 and parts worth $20 were recovered.