Alarming as two young boys caught stealing TelOne copper cables
On Wednesday two boys aged 11 and 12 from Epworth were caught red handed cutting cables in Hatfield, Harare. The boys were disembarking copper cables from a pole property of Telone. After realising they had been seen, the boys tried to run away.
After a short chase the boys were caught. Initial investigations show that the boys have been committing this crime at different places. The Police managed to recover 5 kilograms of copper and other wires from their satchel. The boys were seen by a resident Tawanda Nhira of 167 Kilwining Road in Hatfield.
The third boy managed to escape and it is believed that this one is the mastermind. It is still unknown how the boys travelled from Domboramwari Epworth to 167 Kilwining Hatfield where they were caught committing the offence. After catching the juveniles, Nhira informed the police.
“The school children discovered the crime and alerted us. I rushed to investigate and saw one of the boys cutting the wires using a pair of pliers. One was holding a satchel while the other one had some tools that I could not identify. Upon seeing me the boys took off but we managed to apprehend them.”
“The other one managed to get away. A police officer going about his business passed by and we reported the theft to him,” said Nhira
Alarming as two young boys caught stealing TelOne copper cables
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirms the story. He further adds that the boys were released into the custody of their parents pending compilation of a probation officer’s report.
Commenting on social media, people are disappointed and like always blame the bad economy and government. Some are saying,
“This is where you realise Zimbabwe is a shame. These boys must be at school instead they are now thinking about what they are going to eat tomorrow because of poverty. Too many crimes in Zimbabwe are caused by hunger and poverty.”
“If juveniles turned into such high grade crime then it is a wakeup call. Our authorities should address economic and social setbacks in the country.”
Others are more concerned with the buyer of the wires the boys were stealing. Obviously the buyer cannot be of the same age as the boys and they are ones that deserve prosecution.
The boys will not be prosecuted because of their age according to the Child Justice Bill which states that children above seven but below fourteen cannot commit a criminal offence. However, a legal expert Mrs Tambudzai Gonese-Manjonjo says the boys may be charged.