Weekend crime round-up
An overview of crimes reported to local SAPS from March 7 to 9.
The following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the past weekend:
Friday – A TV, laptops, bicycles and other household items were stolen during a break-in at a home along Middle Street in Rand Collieries.
• The Ackermans store along Voortrekker Road was targeted by a gang of six robbers. One of the robbers pretended to be a customer and approached a staff member just before 11:30 and inquired about a cellphone contract.
He then showed the woman a gun concealed in the waistband of his pants and told her “this is a robbery”. The woman was taken to the back of the shop, where the robbers had rounded up other staff members.
Customers also had their valuables stolen, and one shopper was robbed of his firearm. Before fleeing, the robbers took cash after forcing a staff member to open the tills.
• A delivery rider was robbed of his motorcycle by a group of 10 men at the traffic circle in Anzac. The victim was en route to Sherwood Gardens at around 20:20 to make a delivery, when the hijackers tried to grab him, and he lost control of the bike.
The victim was taken to a veld where his assailants demanded to know the location of the bike’s tracking device. He was assaulted and also robbed of personal documents, his cellphone and cash.
• Cash, a computer, a solar system, lithium batteries and other valuables were stolen during a burglary at a business along Athlone Avenue in Dalview.
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Saturday – A Toyota Fortuner was stolen from Tweedy Road in Brenthurst. Two iPads and a pair of earpods were inside the vehicle.
• A woman was raped and robbed in Withok Estates. The victim was walking home along Vlakfontein Road at around 15:00 when she was greeted by a man who asked her why she was walking alone.
The man then grabbed her and a struggle between them ensued. When the victim tried to free herself from his grasp, she saw he was armed with a knife.
He cut her arm with the weapon and then threw her to the ground, demanding money and her cellphone. She pointed to her handbag, and the man rummaged through it, taking her belongings.
He then forced himself on her. After raping the victim, the man told her he was taking her to a nearby house. As they approached a plot on Prins Street, the victim saw a man and a woman exiting a house, and she ran to them for help.
Her attacker told the pair that the victim was his girlfriend, but then made a run for it. The man followed in a vehicle and apprehended him. The suspect was handed over to police and arrested. The victim’s cellphone and money was returned to her.
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Sunday – A TV and a soundbar were stolen during a burglary at a home along West Road in Sonneveld.
• A green Ford Lazer was stolen from Main Reef Road, near Anzac.
• Three TVS, five soundbars and over R6 000 in cash were stolen during an armed robbery at a store along 12th Road in Maryvlei.
The incident took place at around 13:00. It is believed at least three robbers were involved, one of whom was armed with a gun.
Staff members were tied up and locked in a storeroom, while another was locked in an office. The robbers also took a cellphone belonging to an employee.
• Bank cards were stolen from a car at the scene of an accident at the Vootrekker Road and Prince George Avenue intersection.
The drivers of the two vehicles involved in the minor collision stopped to exchange information. One of the drivers later received notifications of transactions on his bank account, totalling R1 582. He checked his car and found his cards were missing.
