In a curious case in Hwange, a local man has been apprehended after allegedly breaking into two homes on the same night, stealing not only household items but also a considerable amount of food and beverages.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has reported on the incident, detailing the burglar’s unusual haul that included pots of sadza and beans, as well as soft drinks.
According to the NPA, the incident occurred on the night of September 20, 2024, around 10:00 PM.
The accused reportedly targeted a nearby residence first, where he forcefully gained entry into the kitchen by using an unknown object to break open the door. In a surprising turn of events, he made off with two silver pots: one containing sadza, a staple Zimbabwean dish made from cornmeal, and the other filled with beans.
The following morning, the homeowner discovered the theft and immediately reported the incident to the authorities. In a stroke of luck for the complainant, she noticed distinct shoe prints leading away from her kitchen, which ultimately guided her to the suspect’s residence.
But that was not all the burglar had in store for that night. Just hours after the initial break-in, he also allegedly targeted a local tuckshop owned by a second complainant within the same village. After gaining access to the tuckshop, he stole an assortment of beverages, including 12 bottles of 500ml Pepsi, two liters of a fizzy drink, and a 500ml bottle of Pfuko Maheu, a popular traditional fermented maize beverage. The total value of all items stolen from both locations amounted to ZWG514.17.
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Once the police were alerted about the break-ins, they promptly began investigations, using the shoe prints as a key piece of evidence to track down the suspect. This led to the eventual arrest of the accused, who was quickly identified by the police as Ncube.
In a swift turn of events, the stolen items were recovered, much to the relief of the victims. Ncube was subsequently charged with burglary and appeared before the court, where he was found guilty of the offenses.
As of the latest updates, he was scheduled to return to court on September 25 for sentencing, yet the NPA has not released any further information regarding the outcome of the hearing.
