Two men who were part of a housebreaking syndicate targeting residents in North End suburb were on Thursday jailed for three-and-a-half years each for breaking into two houses and stealing property worth $2 800.
Martin Siziba and Master Khabo were convicted on their own plea of guilty to unlawful entry when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa.
They were each sentenced to 48 months in prison of which six months were conditionally suspended for five years.
Prosecutor Jerry Mutsindikwa told the court the pair was part of a five-member housebreaking gang that terrorised residents in North End suburb.
Two other alleged members of the syndicate, Mthandazo Dube and Bhekimpilo Ndlovu, are still at large.
On April 6, the gang went to Leonard Mlothswa’s house at around 11:50pm when he was asleep.
They scaled a precast wall to gain entry into the yard, forcibly opened a window and entered the house where they stole various electrical gadgets and kitchen utensils and went away unnoticed.
However, Mlotshwa woke up in the morning and found his property stolen and made a report to the police.
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The court heard the following day they went to another house belonging to Jabulani Mliswa.
Using the same method, they broke into his house and stole a laptop and cellphone.
However during that time, Mliswa woke up and caught them red-handed in the act.
One of them produced a knife, threatening to stab him.
Mliswa gathered courage and fought them until they ran away.
He then made a report to the police.
On April 8, police received a tip-off that the pair and their accomplices had some stolen property which they had left at Makokoba for safekeeping.
They were arrested and made indications to the police, leading to the recovery of some of the property.
The complainants positively identified their property through marks and serial numbers.
