Weekend crime round-up

The following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the weekend:

Friday – A TV and other valuables were stolen during a break-in at a home along Ruth Road in Sunair Park.

• A married couple was attacked and robbed by four men at the corner of Prince George and Victoria avenues.

The husband, who offers gardening services, was returning from work accompanied by his wife when they were confronted by the group at around 19:00.

One of the men grabbed the woman by the neck while the others cornered her husband and accused him of stealing the weed eater in his possession.

The men took the weed eater and fled the scene. The stolen item is valued at R2 000.

• A workshop in Goods Road was burgled of vehicle battery chargers, vehicle batteries, a welding machine and a toolbox.

• A blue Toyota Corolla was stolen from an address along Lawrence Road in Dalpark.

• A spare wheel was stolen from a Ford Ranger parked along Civin Road in Sonneveld.

• Toolboxes, a TV, a guitar and other goods were stolen during a burglary at a home along Kingsway Avenue.

Saturday – A security guard fell prey to criminals after intervening in a robbery at the corner of Northdene Avenue and High Street at 02:45. The guard was patrolling when he witnessed five occupants of a black Toyota Quantum robbing a woman.

When he went to the woman’s rescue, the robbers turned on him and pushed him against a wall.He was searched and robbed of his work keys, a panic button, a remote control, cash and a cellphone.

Despite the robbers threatening the guard with a firearm, he did not see whether the men were armed.

Once the robbers fled in the Quantum, the guard flagged down a passing police vehicle and alerted the officers.
Two suspects were apprehended and detained for common robbery.

• A woman was robbed of her valuables by two female con artists at Mall@Carnival. The victim was shopping in one of the stores at around 15:00 when she was approached by a woman who claimed to work at the store.

She told the victim she could arrange a staff discount for any items she purchased. The “employee” was then joined by another woman, who also claimed to work at the store.

The victim accompanied the pair outside the store where she was robbed of her handbag and cellphone. She was also instructed to take off her jewellery and place it in her handbag.

The pair then disappeared and the victim informed her husband of the incident. In addition to the cellphone and jewellery, the bag also contained the victim’s purse with cash and bank cards.

It was discovered money had been transferred from one of the victim’s bank account and cash withdrawn from another. A case of common robbery is under investigation.

Sunday – A car parked at an address along Wenden Avenue was stripped of its wheels.

• Cash, bank cards and personal documents were stolen from a car parked along Queen Avenue.

• Tools were stolen from an address along Carlstein Street in Sherwood Gardens.

• A home in Brakpan Road, Anzac, was burgled of a ladder, tools, a sewing machine, solar panels and other valuables.

• A man who went to withdraw cash at a Voortrekker Road ATM at 13:30 was targeted by a thief.

The victim inserted the bank card into the machine and entered the PIN when a man appeared next to him and started pressing the ATM’s buttons.

When the victim pressed the cancel button on the machine, it did not return the bank card. Cash was withdrawn from the account soon after.

The perpetrator was travelling in a white Colt single-cab bakkie.