Thief caught in act, jumps from second floor balcony
By Angeline Mpofu
A 28-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man sustained serious injuries after he jumped from the second floor of a city flat as he fled from an angry mob that had caught him red-handed stealing clothes from a washing line.
The suspect, identified as Bright Kanengoni, was allegedly caught stealing clothes from a washing line on the third floor of Marvel Court, situated along Main Street opposite Bulawayo Centre.
The incident happened on Thursday at about 7 am.
Mr Qhubani Ngwenya, one of the tenants at Marvel Court, said: “I saw him grabbing clothes from the washing line on the third floor balcony. I alerted other tenants and we started chasing him.
“He jumped to the second floor balcony and that is when we caught up with him and people started beating him up.”
He said the suspect had no choice but to jump again from the second floor to the ground.
“I did not think that he would do it. He jumped from the second floor to the ground. Maybe he was confused to the extent that he thought the ground was just below him,” said Mr Ngwenya.
“I am still shocked, I have never seen such an incident it was like a movie. I thought he was going to die. He lay motionless on the road until the ambulance came. He should have let the tenants beat him up instead of jumping off the building.”
Kanengoni was then taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he is recovering under police guard. Contacted for comment, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said:
“I can confirm that we have arrested Bright Kanengoni for stealing clothes and blankets from three complainants in separate incidents. Investigations are still underway and he is recovering at UBH.” The Chronicle
