Weekend crime round-up

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

Friday – A TV and a microwave were stolen during a break-in at a residence along Muir Avenue. There is rental accommodation on the property, and another room was broken into but nothing was taken. It is reported the burglars were travelling in a white Nissan 1400.

• A man was robbed of cash and his cellphone after being swindled by a man who portrayed himself as a mechanic.

The victim’s car broke down the previous day and had to be towed away. He met the mechanic later that day and, after explaining what was wrong with the vehicle, the mechanic agreed to fix the car but required an upfront payment of R9 500.

The pair met up again the following morning at a supermarket in Maryvlei where the victim withdrew the cash.

The mechanic then made a call to arrange a lift to the victim’s car. They were picked up by two men in an unidentified vehicle.

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While driving along Springs Road in Vulcania, one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it at the victim. He demanded the money the victim had just withdrawn. The gunman also took the victim’s cellphone.

• A home along Olympia Road in Brenthurst was burgled of a TV.

• Batteries were stolen from a truck parked at the corner of Denne and Springs roads in Rand Collieries.

The driver stopped just after 19:00 to get something to eat from a nearby petrol station and left the truck’s hazard lights on.

Upon his return to the truck a few minutes later, he noticed the hazard lights were off. He checked the vehicle and found two batteries had been stolen. The combined value of the stolen batteries is R17 250.

• A food delivery rider was robbed of his scooter along New Kleinfontein Road just after 20:00. The victim was heading home after making his last delivery for the day at an address along Gardiner Avenue.

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As he turned into New Kleinfontein Road and headed under the bridge, he saw two men in the distance holding a rope across the road.

The men lowered the rope as a car drove past, but then raised it as the victim approached. The victim fell from the scooter when he pressed the brakes too hard in his attempt to stop.

Two men chased him from the road while another two took his scooter, valued at R29 000. The victim was assisted by a passing motorist who took him to Brakpan SAPS to report the incident.

A hijacking case was opened.

Saturday – A TV was stolen during a burglary at an address along Farquharson Road in Minnebron.
• A business in Springs Road, Witpoort Estates, was broken into, and tools, truck batteries and other valuables were stolen.

Sunday – No priority cases were reported at the time of publication.