Meet John Malinga, the gardener with a green thumb for thievery. This former plant whisperer turned master thief was caught red-handed (or should I say, red-faced?) after a sting operation that would put a bee to shame. Malinga’s crew swiped over $75,000 worth of goodies from Hillside’s posh homes, leaving residents green with rage. The loot included TVs, solar batteries, heavy machinery, and even a high-precision Sartorius machine – talk about taking the lawn mower to a whole new level!

But karma’s a mighty fine gardener, and she pruned Malinga’s operation down to size. A nosy neighbor spotted a suspicious ride – a black Honda Fit with tinted windows – parked outside Hillside Shopping Centre. The police swooped in like a swarm of bees on honey, and the suspects’ explanations were as flimsy as a leaf in the wind.

The domino effect of interrogations and raids led to a treasure trove of stolen property being recovered. It was like a yard sale on steroids! Residents were stunned, feeling betrayed by Malinga’s double life. “He used to mow our lawns, trim our hedges, and we thought he was trustworthy… who knew he was secretly sowing seeds of deceit?” one resident quipped.

Now Malinga’s facing the music, and the police are urging anyone who’s been burgled to come claim their stuff. Guess Malinga’s gardening skills didn’t quite translate to “getting away with it”! As one officer quipped, “Looks like he couldn’t weed out his own criminal tendencies!” The case is still ongoing, but one thing’s for sure – Malinga won’t be pruning any more lawns anytime soon!
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