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Timoth Makohliso Midlands Reporter
A GWERU security guard who stole an iPhone at a company he was guarding was exposed by WhatsApp leading to his arrest.
Boars Chada, 34, of Village 11, appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing theft charges and was sentenced to five months in prison.

He will, however, serve an effective three months after two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Chada was stationed at the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company premises in the Central Business District of Gweru when he committed the crime.

For the State, Daniel Tafuma told the court that on August 18, around 4.30PM, Brian Gurajena parked his Toyota Prado at the company’s parking area.

Tafuma said the complainant left his car unlocked and Chada wasted no time in pouncing on the complainant’s iPhone which he had left in the car.

The court heard that Chada inserted his Econet line and memory card into the phone and started using it as his own.

Tafuma said the complainant’s wife then started communicating with Chada through viber software on the phone and she deliberately started a conversation.

He said Chada would also alternately use Whatsapp as he enjoyed his “new” gadget.

The court heard that Gurajena downloaded Chada’s profile picture as they were communicating through WhatsApp.

Tafuma said when Gurajena downloaded the picture, he realised that it was one of the security guards who he used to see at work.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Chada.

In his defence, Chada said he deliberately put his picture on his profile as he wanted to reveal his identity to the complainant.

He said seeing Gurajena daily at work made him feel guilty.