YESTERDAY (Friday) evening, around 18h30, a cellphone was alegedly stolen outside the Elangeni Hotel from an unsuspecting individual.
It’s reported that the suspect approached the victim in a friendly manner, pretending to know him, and managed to steal the phone unnoticed.
Efforts by the North Beach CPF, DG Protection Security, SAPS, UIP, and Fidelity Guard Security led to the apprehension of the “known phone thief”.
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According to Essa Mahomed, chairperson of the North Beach CPF, the suspect later led the law enforcement authorities to another suspect on Florida Road who was in possession of a stolen cellphone.
SAPS Durban Central spokesperson Sergeant Zanele Khomo confirmed the incident.
“The suspected phone thief at Elangeni Hotel confessed to stealing the phone when our members engaged with him at the scene. He led the officers to his friends on Florida Road, who had the stolen phone. The friend was also arrested.
“A third suspect, a buyer, was arrested on Bertha Mkhize Road, Dakota flat where police recovered Glock blank-firearm, blank ammunition, tens of cellphone devices and a laptop and two iPads. The three suspects were placed in custody,” Khomo shared.
Mahomed concluded, “This operation marks one of the biggest busts this year in North Beach. This is a no-go area for criminals and we uphold a zero-tolerance approach to criminal activity.
“We are committed to closing every avenue, corner, street and building to ensure North Beach becomes a crime-free zone.”
Khomo said the suspects would be charged with robbery and possession of suspected stolen property.
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