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Mpumelelo Nyoni Court Reporter
A DARING thief from Njube suburb in Bulawayo allegedly hid 24 razor blades in his underpants after stealing them at Choppies Supermarket at Entumbane Complex.Joubert Ngwenya appeared in court yesterday facing charges of theft and giving false particulars to the police after he gave police officers a false name and address in a bid to conceal past crimes.

Ngwenya is alleged to have given his name as Bhekani Ncube and also supplied a wrong address for Njube where he resides.

He was not asked to plead but denied supplying false information, claiming police were trying to fix him for past crimes.

Magistrate Temba Chimiso, however, found him guilty and remanded him in custody to Monday for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Mitchelle Chiboiwa told the court that Ngwenya lied to the police when he was being detained for stealing 24 packs of razor blades worth $16 on Wednesday.

“On August 27 at Choppies Entumbane Complex, Joubert Ngwenya entered the shop, went to the shelves and took 24 packs of razor blades and hid them in his pants. He was apprehended by a security guard and the razors, valued at $16, were recovered.

“Ngwenya was then taken to Entumbane Police Station where he was detained for theft,” said Chiboiwa.

The court also heard that when police made a follow-up, they discovered that he had given them an address for a house where his aunt, Janet Ngwenya lives.

The state intends to verify Ngwenya’s previous crimes after he claimed he was previously convicted for robbery and theft.