UMBILO police notched up a number of arrests this past week.
Robbery with a weapon
A 33-year-old man was arrested by Umbilo police on Sunday afternoon after he robbed a pedestrian of her cellphone on Sydney Road.
According to Umbilo Communications Officer, Sergeant Beverly Manqele, the woman was walking along Sydney Road when the suspect approached her with a knife and demanded her cell phone before fleeing on foot.
“The woman screamed for help and a passerby gave chase and caught the suspect on Khuzimpi Shezi Road, hiding under a truck. We attended the scene and after searching the suspect found a knife in his possession but the cell phone was not found,” said Manqele.
The suspect was arrested and charged for robbery, the case is under investigation by the Umbilo detective branch.
Geyser taken in housebreaking
An Umbilo man caught a robber in the act trying to steal from his home last Thursday, 17 October.
According to Sergeant Beverly Manqele, the man locked and secured his home before he left for work. “Later, on the same day when he came back he noticed the suspect inside his home but as he went to investigate the suspect disappeared. Upon checking the property the man noticed that the security gate had been broken into.”
Manqele said while the man was home the following day, he saw the suspect return to his home, entering through the back door of the house. “The suspect took copper pipes and a geyser, the complainant apprehended the suspect and called us. We responded immediately and the complainant pointed out the suspect,”
A case was opened and the suspect was arrested and detained for house breaking and theft.
Robber caught
Quick police work resulted in the arrest of a robber who tried to steal 48 dinner plates last Thursday, 17 October.
According to Umbilo Communication Officer, Sergeant Beverly Manqele, the complainant, a security guard was on duty at the Sydney Road business when he saw the suspect breaking into the property.
“He called his controller and gave a description of the suspect who had already fled the scene. We received the complaint and went to the vicinity searching for the suspect and caught a person who fitted the description. Police took him back to the scene of the crime and the guard confirmed that he was the same person who had broken into the property,” she added.
The suspect was arrested and detained for house breaking.
Victim apprehends thief
A teenager was arrested for attempted robbery on Monday afternoon, 21 October after robbing the wrong man at the corner of Heather and Esther Roberts roads.
According to Sergeant Beverly Manqele, Communications Officer at Umbilo SAPS, the complainant, a 26-year-old man was walking along the road when he was approached by the suspect who pushed him demanding that he hand him his cellular phone. “The complainant refused and pushed back running to his office. He told a colleague what had happened and they got into a car and went to look for the suspect. When the suspect saw the complainant he ran, but the man chased and caught him.”
Umbilo police were called and after the man gave a statement, the 15-year-old was arrested for attempted robbery.
