Lentswe, Klerksdorp - A burglar who terrorised residents and was linked to three separate cases that included housebreaking and house robbery, will be locked away for 27 years. Thapelo Francis Sephiri (27) was sentenced in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday February 13. He was arrested in June last year bringing his reign as the notorious CBD flat burglar to an end.
The court heard that Sephiri committed his first house breaking between October 20 and 25 2021, when he burgled a flat in the CBD. Situated on the first floor, he forced entry through a window. He then got away with electrical equipment, clothing and jewellery.
In the second incident, reported in the early hours of November 7, 2021, he also gained entry through the window into another flat, also situated on the first floor in the CBD. He pounced on the husband and wife, who were asleep in their bedroom and stabbed them both with a knife. Their baby girl was sleeping on the bed, but was unharmed during the incident. The thief ransacked the couple’s home and fled with cash, personal documents and a wallet.
In the last incident, reported on November 12 that same year, he broke a window to gain entry into a church in Flamwood, and stole cash, an inverter and tools.
“Sephiri was arrested after his fingerprints were identified, linking him to all three crime scenes. He was found by the investigation officer inside Klerksdorp police cells, after being arrested for a separate burglary case, which is still ongoing. He was sentenced to a total of 27 years imprisonment as follows: Five years for house breaking and theft, 17 years for house robbery and house breaking and five years for burglary at the church premises,” said Col Adéle Myburgh, police spokesperson.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked the Investigating Officer, W/O Rowan Lourens of Klerksdorp Detectives and all other role players including the NPA for working together to secure the conviction.
