Caught in the act
A75-year-old grandpa from Hobhouse high-density suburb in Mutare shocked many after he was caught redhanded stealing 1 000 bricks from a nearby school, which is under construction.
The suspect, Naison Chikodzore, defied his old age and stole the tonne of bricks under the cover of darkness.
However, his luck ran out when security guards at the school spotted him stealing and apprehended him while in possession of his loot. When The Weekender arrived at the scene, members of the public wanted to beat up the grandpa who had managed to carry some 1 000 bricks from the school over a period of time and stacked them at his house.
“We caught him red-handed stealing from the school. He has already confessed that he stole the bricks during the night. He said he took five or four bricks a night, stashed them in a bag and took them to his house. Habitual thief
“He used the same modus operandi for close to a month and got away with 1 000 bricks. However, he was unlucky this time around and we caught him. He came at around 8.30pm with his bag and took five bricks. When I confronted him, he confessed to the theft and quickly apologised. He pleaded with me to let him go and even offered me a bribe. I then handed him over to the police,” said one of the guards, Evertone Chegurei.
Speaking to The Weekender, Chikodzore did not deny the allegations.
He justified his deeds, saying he was only trying to finish building his house amid the harsh economic situation.
“I started collecting bricks from this school about a month ago and would store them in my kitchen. I collected the bricks early in the morning and in the evening. When my wife asked me where I was getting the bricks I lied to her that I was buying them,” he said.
Neighbours allege that the grandpa was a habitual thief.
“Regardless of having children who take care of him, and having a house in Sakubva which he rents out, he fails to act like a grandfather. During the day he walks around the hood surveying what to steal and later in the evening he walks around with a wheelbarrow ready to take other people’s belongings.
He once stole my flowers and at one time I saw him stealing someone’s avocadoes,” said his neighbour who identified herself as Mrs Mutsipa.
The stolen bricks were returned to the school and the Salvation Army church, which is building the school has since decided to forgive Chikodzore.