BEREA police have made a couple of arrests over the past week.
Waiter arrested
On Wednesday, 6 November a waiter was arrested for theft at a Musgrave restaurant.
According to Berea Communications Officer, Lieutenant PN Naidoo, an employee stole a bottle of wine which was recorded on CCTV footage. “The employer called us and Berea SAPS arrested the man,” he said.
Security saves the day
A man was lucky not to lose his car to a thief who tried to steal it from Mansfield Road on Thursday afternoon, 7 Novemvber.
“The man parked and locked his car but when he returned, a security guard told him that a man had climbed into his car as soon as he left and tried to steal it. The quick thinking security guard did not panic but called the police and arrested the man in the car further down the road,” said Lt Naidoo.
Beware of pick-pocketers
Berea police has issued a warning to residents to be vigilant of pick-pocketing after an incident last Friday, where a woman was arrested for theft of a cell phone in a Cowey Road store.
Lt Naidoo said a woman was shopping in the store, when she felt someone tug at her bag, but when she turned around and screamed, for help the woman had already passed the phone to someone else in the store.
“The security came to the shopper’s aid, but not before the suspect’s accomplice got away with the phone. The woman tried calling the phone and it rang before it was quickly switched off,” Naidoo said.
Berea SAPS arrested the woman for theft.
“People must be aware while shopping to always have your bag buckled or zipped and closed, especially with the festive season coming up. With this incident there were two people working together so you must be aware of those around you,” he added.
Thieving staff arrested
Two employees from businesses in the Musgrave area were arrested for theft by Berea police last week.
“The first was a woman working for a doctor who was pocketing cash received from cash patients and the other, a woman was arrested for stealing company money over a period of time. The employee was working with the payroll for a company and over a period of time stole money from the business by manipulating the system using ex-employees’ details for payment,” said Naidoo.
The owner contacted the police with evidence on CCTV footage and the woman was arrested for theft of cash.
Taxi driver pursues thief
A woman was lucky to have her gold chain returned when a taxi driver and Berea police came to her rescue after she was robbed last week.
“The woman was jogging along Vause Road when a suspect came up behind her and grabbed her gold chain and ran down St Thomas Road and into the Berea Park area. A taxi driver stopped and came to the woman’s assistance. He gave chase and ran into the park behind the suspect. Police also arrived and cordoned off the park. Together with the taxi driver, they arrested the suspect,” said Naidoo.
The woman’s gold chain was recovered and the suspect, a vagrant, was arrested for common robbery.
Students robbed
Two suspects were arrested for theft after robbing students on Sydenham Road.
Lt PN Naidoo said the men held up the students with a broken bottle neck demanding their bag. After they contacted police giving a description of the men, police later arrested the men and the student’s bag was recovered.”
