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Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man was yesterday sentenced to an effective 12 years in prison after he broke into six different premises and stole property worth $21,342 and R67,210. Sipho Tshuma, 44, of Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb broke into business premises between March 2013 and April 2014. Detectives used his fingerprints which he left on the crime scenes to track him down.

Tshuma, who appeared before Provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo facing 10 counts of unlawful entry and theft, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Four years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within a period of 5years.

Magistrate Moyo said unlawful entry into premises coupled with theft is a serious offence.

“It is aggravated where such places are trade or business premises. It’s also aggravated where the property stolen is of high value and where such property would not have been recovered,” said the magistrate.

“Taking into account the number of counts you have been convicted of, the amount of money stolen and the nature of premises broken into, a sentence of community service obviously would not suffice,” said Moyo.

He said imprisonment was unavoidable.

Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza told the court that Tshuma stole from Wray Company in Thorngrove, Sun Spun Bananas, African Steel in Donnington, JAP Auto Parts in the city centre, Graphic Rubber Stamp in the city centre and Neighbourhood Tavern in Nketa.

He said Tshuma would steal during the night. He would be armed with a bolt cutter and iron crow bar to break into the premises.

In February, a Bulawayo ex-soldier who was convicted of 29 counts of unlawful entry and theft, was sentenced to an effective 13 years in prison.