Harare man jailed for nearly five years after fridge raid turned car theft

A 31-year-old Harare man who broke into a Belvedere home to steal meat from a fridge before attempting to drive off in the homeowner’s car has been jailed for an effective four years and eight months.

Benson Jakarasi, of no fixed abode, was convicted and sentenced by the Harare Magistrates’ Court for aggravated unlawful entry and theft of a motor vehicle.

The court heard that at around 11.30 pm on 21 September 2026, Jakarasi scaled the durawall at 10 McIlwaine Crescent Road in Belvedere, the home of 58-year-old Malcom Thorncroft, and forced open the main door.

He went straight to the dining room, opened the fridge and stole five kilogrammes of meat valued at US$25. Thorncroft noticed the intruder, locked himself in his bedroom and alerted the police.

While Thorncroft was waiting for officers to arrive, Jakarasi took the keys to Thorncroft’s Honda CR-V from a toolbox, went to the garage and began reversing the vehicle out.

Detectives arrived as he was reversing. They fired a warning shot, and Jakarasi fled back into the house, where he hid behind a couch. Police searched the premises, found him and arrested him.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for unlawful entry and four years for theft of a motor vehicle.

Three months of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour, with a further month suspended on condition that he restitutes the US$25. He will therefore serve an effective four years and eight months in prison.