Evans Hofe, a convict, told the Hohoe Circuit Court during his sentencing that he was pushed to steal due to economic hardship.
The 40-year-old tiler was arraigned before the court and charged with conspiracy, unlawful entry, and stealing.
He pleaded guilty to all the charges adding that ‘living was hard for him’ hence his decision to steal.
The Court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.
Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, the prosecutor told the court that the complainant, a businessman, who traded in general store provisions and fertilizer sacks, sometimes hired a brother of the convict to convey his goods from Accra to his warehouse for him.
He said Hofe also served as a driver’s mate to his brother and embarked on the trips with him.
Chief Inspector Aziati said it was during those trips that the convict got to know the location of the warehouse and the types of wares that it contained.
On Monday, May 9, the convict accompanied by an accomplice, only identified as Agrah unlawfully broke into the warehouse and stole 684 pieces of fertilizer sacks kept in one of the rooms.
Unknown to the convict and his accomplice, their activities were captured by CCTV cameras installed at the warehouse.
Chief Inspector Aziati continued that while they were transporting the goods to Hohoe, they were intercepted by a police patrol team, but the accomplice managed to escape.
He said the convict was brought to the police station together with the stolen items for investigation.
Meanwhile, the complainant detected the theft and later had information about the convict’s arrest by the police the following morning.
He then went to the police station and identified the convict based on the images captured by the CCTV camera.
The convict volunteered a caution statement to the police in which he admitted the offense.