Face powder thief escapes jail

By Nyore Madzianike

HARARE – Cosmetics thief Patience Shumba, who was caught stealing face powder from one of the Edgars shops in the city centre, escaped jail by a whisker after she was fined for her offence.

The 30 year-old, who stays at No. 6 Ginger Road Chadcombe, was fined US$80 for stealing facer powder, believed to be Black Opal, worth US$28 while she was in the company of her close friend.

Patience also risks being jailed for 20 days if she fails to pay the fine.

Harare magistrate Trevor Tatenda Nyatsanza also slapped her with a wholly suspened two month jail term on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

State counsel, Audrey Chogumaira, proved that on August 27 Patience and her friend entered the Edgars shop pretending as if they were potential buyers of the make-up products.

They approached the cosmetics shelf where they started gazing and touching the various face powders which were on display.

It was said that Patience went on to remove the face powder tube from its box and stashed it into her handbag.

Patience then took quite a long time holding the empty box in her hands presumably to divert the attention of shop security before she returned it onto the shelf.

She then attempted to sneak out of the shop with the face powder tube in her handbag.

Unfortunately, an alert shop attendant, Enginah Patsika, was keeping an eagle eye on all her actions.

Enginah then alerted the person who was manning the exit point who then called Patience back into the shop.

Sensing danger, the face power thief quickly handed the handbag to her friend.

The person manning the exit point then called Patience’s friend back and asked to search the handbag.

It was then discovered that patience had stolen the face powder. H Metro