Luckmore Mutsindiko, a 29-year-old resident of Shackleton Compound in Lionsden, Chinhoyi, has received a ten-year prison sentence for his involvement in the theft of electrical cables, a violation of the Electricity Act.
The crime occurred on December 31, 2021, when Mutsindiko, accompanied by his accomplice Clackson Mutsindiko, who remains at large, targeted Athens Farm in Chinhoyi.
The duo meticulously cut and stole 30 meters of core armoured cable, measuring 50 millimeters by 4 millimeters, which was essential for supplying electricity from a transformer owned by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company to a pump house.
Following their theft, they transported the stolen cable to a nearby bush where they attempted to burn off the insulation to salvage the copper beneath, highlighting the premeditated nature of their crime.
However, their actions did not go unnoticed; a vigilant security guard conducting a routine patrol observed the suspicious activity and promptly alerted his team.
The security personnel launched a search that led them to the bush, where they caught Mutsindiko in the act of pulling the cable while his accomplice escaped the scene.
Law enforcement swiftly apprehended Mutsindiko, leading to his prosecution.
The total value of the stolen armoured cable was estimated at USD 1,125, and during the investigation, authorities managed to recover cables valued at USD 20, providing some restitution for the crime.
SOURCE : NEWSREPORTZIM.COM
