Two appear in court in connection with hotel room theft

by Happy Lazaro

Incidences of hotel room thefts in which criminals employ the use of master keys to steal valuable items from rooms occupants could be an emerging type of crime in Arusha.

Two people namely, Alice Mkagulu (49), who hails form Kitangiri, Mwanza and John Martine (42), a resident of Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, have appeared in court under the alleged charges of committing hotel room thefts using master keys.

The case was presented before the Resident Magistrate, Amir Msumi by the public prosecutor, Inspector Hassan Nuru who noted that the theft occurred on the 1^st of November this year.

The two accused are alleged to have committed the hotel room theft at the Hotel A.M. in Arusha municipality that Saturday afternoon at about 13:00 hours.

Both defendants are reported to have broken into room number 57 which was being occupied by one Frank Michael and stole therein, a suit case valued at Tsh.200,000, a Nokia handset worth Tsh.120,000 and cash money Tsh.50,000.

The accused are alleged to use master keys in getting into the room while the occupant was out.

It was after the theft was reported that the two accused were arrested as prime suspects and when searched they were found with ten sets of master keys some of which could open five other rooms in the hotel.

Both accused have denied the charges but are still in custody, awaiting the second hearing of their case on the 26^th of November 2003.

Last modified: November 14, 2003.
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