Weekend crime round-up

According to information received, the following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the weekend:

• Friday – Two homes were burgled. A laptop, cash, several pairs of shoes and other valuables were stolen from a home along Dikbas Street in Dalpark Extension Six, while two TVs and a kettle were stolen from a residence in Springs Road, Denneoord.

* A bottle store along Wenden Avenue was robbed at gunpoint by a gang of four men. The robbers entered the shop at 19:42 and threatened the owner and his wife at gunpoint.

They fled with cash from the tills, bottles of liquor and the owner’s white Ford Ranger bakkie. A case of business robbery is under investigation.

* Truck batteries were stolen during a break-in at a business along 7th Road in Witpoort Estates.

* A man walking along Station Road was robbed after being forced into a vehicle at gunpoint.

The victim was walking near the taxi rank at around 22:00 when a blue Kia Picanto with three occupants pulled up alongside him.

One of occupants got out of the Picanto, pointed a gun at the victim and instructed him to get in the car. The victim was robbed of his cellphone, shoes, belt and cash, and driven to a cemetery in Benoni where he was assaulted until he lost consciousness.

He was found by a passer-by the following morning and was taken by ambulance to the Far East Rand Hospital.

• Saturday – Three robbers made off with copper cables after tying up two security guards at a company along Lemmer Road in Vulcania. The robbery took place around 00:40.

The trio, one of whom was armed with a gun, confronted the guards in the guardroom and robbed one of them of his cellphone.

* A business in Voortrekker Road was broken into but nothing was stolen. The shop’s front door and lock were damaged.

• Sunday – A man was arrested following a break-in at a shop along Prince George Avenue. A computer tower and a cash drawer containing R400 were stolen.

* The driver of a black Opel Corsa Utility bakkie was hijacked in Anzac along the Main Reef Road detour route near Plastic City.

The incident took place at around 19:30. The victim was forced to brake when the vehicle travelling in front of him suddenly stopped.

Three men, two armed with guns and the other with a knife, emerged from the bushes and threatened him.
The victim was forced into the back where his hands and feet were bound with rope, and the hijackers drove off with him.

He was robbed of his two cellphones, a bank card and cash. The victim was then taken to an ATM where the hijackers withdrew cash from his account.

He was dropped off at an undisclosed area and sought help from security guards who took him to a police station.