UMBILO police have been hard at work in the lead up to the festive season carrying out arrests and other crime combating initiatives.
Car thieves arrested
Two men were arrested for attempted theft out of a car last Monday after they were caught in the act on CCTV footage while the owner was at a business premises on Magwaza Maphalala Street.
According to Sergeant Beverly Manqele, officers were patrolling along Magwaza Maphalala Street when they saw members of the public chasing two suspects. “On questioning the complainant he reported that while his vehicle a Kia Ceranto was parked inside the premises he saw from the CCTV footage the two men breaking into the vehicle. The complainant rushed outside and they fled the scene when they saw him. The man chased after them in his car,” she said.
The suspects ran away on foot and police spotted them throwing a car-breaking implement on the side of the road. “Police caught the two suspects and took them back to where the car-breaking implement had been thrown away. The suspects were arrested and detained for the crime they committed,” added Manqele.
Umbilo man woken by burglar
Last Monday night a man awoke to strange noises coming from his garage. On closer inspection, he saw a young man walking out with R2000 worth of tools.
“The man rushed back into his house and phoned the police. The man accompanied police to look for the suspect who was identified with the stolen items in his possession. The suspect was arrested and detained at Umbilo police station. The two crow bars, two picks, flood light, weight belt, box bolt and nut were returned to the rightful owner.
Community arrest thief
A man who had stolen a woman’s cellphone on Clark Road early on Thursday morning, 12 December was brought to the Umbilo police after community members made a citizens arrest.
Sgt Manqele said the woman stopped to talk on her phone when the man grabbed it and ran towards Dalton Hostel.
“An unknown female offered to drive the complainant to the hostel to look for the suspect. The suspect was found at the beer hall and the complainant pointed him out to community members,” she said.
The suspect was arrested and detained.
Two arrested for heroin possession
Two men were arrested for possession of drugs believed to be heroin. On Wednesday afternoon, 11 December a 38-year-old man was arrested by Constable L Dyido near Dalton Hostel.
“The officer was patrolling the area when he stopped and searched the suspect. He found two parcels of substance suspected to be heroin wrapped in plastic in his trouser pockets. The officer arrested the suspect who was later detained at Umbilo SAPS,” she said.
On Monday morning, 16 December, a 34-year-old man was arrested by Umbilo Visible Policing officers.
“The police were on crime prevention duties patrolling along Umbilo Road doing stop and searches of suspicious people when they saw the accused and asked to search him. They found a parcel of substance that is suspected to be heroin inside his pants pockets, valued at R200. The suspect was arrested and detained.
Meanwhile a 23-year-old woman was arrested on Sydney Road later that morning for possession of five parcels of dagga after she was searched for behaving suspiciously. All cases are under investigation.
Man assaults cop
A man was arrested on Monday, 16 December for common robbery after he robbed a young man of his cellphone.
“The officers were patrolling in full uniform with a marked police vehicle when they were stopped by the complainant, who alerted us to the crime. He searched the area with the police and told police when he spotted the suspect who handed the cell phone to a man who was next to him. Police arrested the two suspects and instructed them to get into the police van the first suspect refused. Resisting, the suspect assaulted a female officer with an open hand and a fist, resulting in bruises,” said Manqele.
