A police officer, Tinashe Chitare, based at Bulawayo Central Police Station lost his uniform, including riot gear, a computer and bicycle accessories while having a drink at a nightclub.
The thieves, Nqobile Mpofu (27) and Jonathan Maswera (33) were on Thursday convicted on their own plea of guilt and Bulawayo magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa sentenced each of them to an effective six months’ imprisonment.
State counsel Jerry Mutsindikwa told the court that on February 24, the policeman, Chitare, who was driving in the company of his friend, Silas Madengu, parked his vehicle in the city centre and secured it before going for a beer drink at a nearby nightclub.
While they were inside, Mpofu and Maswera forcibly opened the car doors and stole a computer, police riot gear and bicycle accessories.
Chitare and his friend discovered the theft as they were about to drive home and made a report at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
On March 7, police received information that Mpofu and Maswera were responsible for the theft, leading to their arrest.
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Police recovered some of the stolen property. Mpofu and Maswera were each sentenced to nine months in prison, three of which were conditionally suspended for five years.