A Midrand resident who was employed at a complex of townhouses as a gardener was recently remanded in custody by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for housebreaking after stealing from the hand that fed him.
The man stole a laptop from one of the tenant’s homes, however, it was recovered after security at the complex intervened.
The court heard that at about 11am on 25 September, the female tenant left her premises locked and went shopping. She returned about 20 minutes later to find the usually closed door to her semi-detached neighbour’s premises wide open. On investigation, she saw a grey and white cap at the neighbour’s open door and took a picture of it. She proceeded into her own premises where, on the toilet seat, she discovered footprints. She then recalled the cap as similar to the one always worn by the gardener.
She left the premises to report a suspected intrusion into her place to security. On the way, she met and greeted the gardener who was minus the usual cap.
After inspecting her place, security asked the gardener about the break-in, to which he admitted guilt and returned the laptop which was passed on to the victim after she identified it as hers.
