The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
LUCK finally ran out for a serial burglar who had been breaking into luxurious holiday homes in Juliasdale and Nyanga to steal property after detectives accounted for him early this month.
Charles Munetsi (28) broke into 19 lodges, cottages and holiday homes and got away with goods worth US$10 850.
Munetsi, who was not represented, pleaded guilty to all 19 counts of unlawful entry.
Munetsi of Nyamusosa Village in Headlands will forever rue the day he launched his criminal escapades after Nyanga magistrate, Mrs Constance Marutya sentenced him to 18 years behind bars.
Mrs Marutya suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.
She further set aside six years on condition that Munetsi restitutes US$5 280 to his victims by December 31, 2023.
Prosecutor, Mr Tapiwa Mashanda said Munetsi stole goods such as television sets, kitchen utensils, bed linen, clothes, foodstuffs and Closed Circuit Television servers, which made tracking him difficult.
“From March 8, 2021 to January 5, 2023, Munetsi unlawfully entered into 19 premises in Juliasdale and Nyanga. He would use an iron bar to forcibly open doors and went away unnoticed. The value of the stolen goods is US$10 850.
“On January 11, detectives received information from a reliable informer that Munetsi was in possession of various stolen property at his homestead in Headlands. Detectives picked Munetsi the same day for interviews.
“Munetsi led the detectives to the recovery of some of the property at his home and from some buyers. He also led detectives to the crime scenes and made positive indications on how he committed the offence,” said Mr Mashanda.
