Unemployed Handed 4 Years For Stealing

A 20 year old unemployed who broke into a mobile phone shop and stole 25 pieces of mobile phones at Dwease in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality has been sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Juaso Circuit Court.

Kwebena Agyapong was convicted by the court presided over by Mr. Yussif Assibey after he pleaded guilty to causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry and stealing.

His accomplice, one Kwaku Tanoh is however at large.

Police Detective Inspector Princeton Peasah Darkwah, prosecuting, said the incident happened on April 16 at about 2300 hours.

The prosecution said the complainant, Abena Konadu, a mobile phone and recharge cards dealer had closed for the day at about 2200 hours.

At about 2300 hours the accused and his accomplice broke into the shop through the window destroying a metal net in the process.

They stole 25 assorted mobile phones and bolted with their booty.

Prosecution said the complainant resumed work the next day only to detect that her shop had been broken into and 25 phones were missing after she took inventory of her stock.

The complainant made an announcement on a local information center about the theft.

A brother of the accused who had received one of the stolen phones from the accused heard the announcement and took the phone to the complainant who identified it as one of the missing phones.

With the assistance of the accused's brother the complainant traced the accused to Konongo and caused his arrest at the lorry park while trying to escape to Accra.

Eleven of the stolen phones were retrieved from him after which he was handed over to the police.

He admitted the offence in his caution statement and mentioned Tanoh as his accomplice.