By STACY MOORE Wednesday, August 8 2012

FOUR NEIGHBOURS who broke into and entered another neighbour’s home in Mayo and stole thousands of dollars worth in welding equipment were yesterday ordered to pay a total of $8,000 in fines and compensation for their acts.

The men Navindra Samraj, 22, Jerome Joseph, 26, Dion Ruiz, 21 and Jeffrey Fraser, 19 appeared before senior magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes in the San Fernando First Magistrate’s Court. The men pleaded guilty to the charges laid by PC Clint Lezama of the Gasparillo Police Station.

Police court prosecutor Ramdath Phillip told the court that last week Thursday, Arnel Ganga, 29 secured his home and left for Mayo Village. Hours later at about 6.30pm he returned to find his place broken into. He checked and found a number of items were missing.

A report was made to the Gasparillo Police Station and investigations were conducted by PC Lezama.

The items stolen included a gas tank, wheel spacers, steel windows, an alternator, gauges and other items.

The four men were yesterday represented by attorney Annalee Girwar, who in seeking none custodial sentences said the men were sorry for the crimes. The magistrate ordered each accused to pay a fine of $1,000, in addition to $1,000 each. The compensation was ordered to be paid forthwith.