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A 30-year-old Gweru man has been sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison for breaking into a house and stealing property worth $545.

Sly Rice of 3511 Mkoba 16, appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Mildret Mutivi last week facing charges of unlawful entry and theft.

The court heard that on March 4 this year, the complainant Ms Shamiso Juma (25), who is employed at Zororo Baptist Primary School, locked her doors and windows at around 0715hrs and went to work.

On March 10 at around 2130hrs, Rice broke into Ms Juma’s house after forcing the door open using an iron bar.

He stole property worth $545 and escaped. When Ms Juma returned, she discovered the break in and that some of her property was missing.

She asked her neighbour Mr Luckmore Mugariri if he had seen anyone around her house while she was away.

Ms Juma and Mr Mugariri went to report the matter to the police.

When they returned to Ms Juma’s house, they saw Rice at the gate carrying her wiztech satellite decoder.

Rice did not notice that the two had seen him.

The court heard that Mr Mugariri and Ms Juma followed him to his house.

They summoned their other friends and they went into Rice’s house where they recovered some of Ms Juma’s property and Rice was subsequently arrested.

Mr Edward Gwainda appeared for the State. — Herald Reporter.