Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
AN unrepentant serial housebreaker from Plumtree will spend the next three years in prison for breaking into Kombani Africa Lodge in Plumtree and stealing alcohol valued at $200.

Mbongeni Ndlovu of Lakeview area broke into the bar section of the lodge on three separate nights and stole the alcohol.
In mitigation Ndlovu told a court that he stole the alcohol to drink.

Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, convicted Ndlovu on his own plea of guilty to four counts of unlawful entry and three counts of theft.
Ruvetsa treated the seven counts as one and sentenced Ndlovu to 36 months imprisonment.

Ndlovu was convicted for unlawful entry and theft charges in 2011 and 2013 which saw him serve 21 months in prison.

In 2011, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for unlawful entry and theft. Three months of his sentence were suspended for five years under the usual conditions and the remaining sentence was suspended on condition that he performed 210 hours of community service at Plumtree magistrate’s court.

In 2013 he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for unlawful entry and theft and the three months which had been suspended in his previous sentence were brought into effect.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Ndlovu first broke into the bar on September 25 at around 10PM.

“Ndlovu proceeded to Kombani Africa Lodge where he gained access into the premises by cutting through an electric fence. He broke into the bar where he stole a 750 ml bottle of Zappa, a bottle of Viceroy and three pints of castle Lite all with a total value of $55.

“On 2 October he broke into the bar again where he stole a bottle of black label whisky, a bottle of southern comfort brandy and six bottles of flying fish beer all valued at $87,” he said.

Mazorodze said Ndlovu broke into the bar for the third time where he stole a bottle of Captain Morgan Rum, six bottles of Smirnoff storm and six bottles of Savanna Dry cider with a total value of $52.

He said on October 5, Ndlovu proceeded to the lodge in the middle of the night and while he was inside he was intercepted by a security guard who had laid an ambush.

He said the alcohol thief fled from the scene after realising that he had been seen.

“The security guard then alerted the barman and told him that he had identified the person who had been stealing alcohol from the lodge and the matter was reported to the police.

“The police searched Ndlovu’s house and they recovered some empty brandy bottles similar to those which had been stolen from the lodge,” said Mazorodze.

 

You Might Also Like

Comments