Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

Soweto residents who bought stolen goods from a man who has been arrested, may find themselves in hot water.

Police arrested the man, 34, in Molapo yesterday and recovered a TV set, a home theater system, car radios, identity documents and a passport, among other goods they found in his home.

The man had made life a living hell for his neighbours whose homes he broke into and stole their property.

Also arrested with him was another man who was found in possession of a radio he bought from the alleged thief.

He has been charged with possession of stolen goods.

The alleged thief has been charged with malicious damage to property, housebreaking, theft and possession of stolen goods.

Moroka police spokesman Sergeant Nokuzola Mashaba said they would take the suspect to show them where he sold the stolen goods.

"People who will be found in possession of the goods, no matter how small, will be arrested and charged. We urge the community to come forward and identify their missing goods."

Neighbourhood patrollers co-ordinator, Phillo Nketle, said the area had been experiencing many housebreakings lately and had been looking for the thief for quite some time.

Nketle said: "As a co-ordinator I have a very hard time when it comes to telling people whether their belongings have been found or not. At times people think that we are not doing our job."

When questioned, the thief said he did not know where the other goods came from but confessed to stealing some of them.

A Metro police officer, Bongani Nkosi whose radio, speakers and CDs were stolen, said he was very angry at the man.

Another victim, Oupa Molapo who also knew the thief said he had been robbed twice. "I have lost a car tape, CDs, wallet and credit cards, body spray and other things in both incidents," said Molapo.

The men will appear in court soon.