Footprints sell out solar battery thief

Mashudu Mambo

A TRAIL of footprints sold out a 35-year-old man from Montgomery on the outskirts of Bulawayo after he broke into a nearby plot and stole a solar battery.

Simbarashe Saunyama pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and theft, and was sentenced by Bulawayo magistrate Busani Sibanda to 15 months behind bars.

Six months were suspended for five years on the condition of good behaviour, and the other nine months were suspended on the condition that he performs 315 hours of community service at Fairbridge Police Station.

The court heard that on 11 September at around 7am, Intelligent Mudenda of Montgomery woke up and discovered some footprints in his yard.

Upon realising this, he was prompted to check on his solar battery and discovered that it had been stolen. Mudenda then followed the footprints that led him to a barbed wire fence entrance which Saunyama had  used to enter his home.

Mudenda further followed the footprints which led him to Saunyama’s house. When he got there he reportedly knocked with no response.

Hours later the victim caught up with up Saunyama at his place. Saunyama reportedly did not take long to admit that he had stolen the battery and said he would return it.

The battery was worth US$150.

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