Weekend crime round-up
An overview of crimes reported to local SAPS from April 11 to 13.
The following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the past weekend:
Friday – Copper cables and other valuables were stolen during an armed robbery at a company along Lemmer Road in Vulcania. A gang of 10 men gained access to the property at around 04:30 and overpowered the security guards on duty.
The guards were tied up, and one was robbed of his cellphone, car keys and firearm. The robbers, who were armed with two small firearms and a shotgun, threatened to shoot the guards if they didn’t co-operate.
Two of the guards were locked in a garage/factory on the premises, while another was forced to accompany the robbers to the company’s warehouse. They fled with the cables, a CCTV monitor and two TVs. The guards were unharmed, and no shots were fired.
• The driver of a white Toyota Hilux pulling a trailer was robbed of the vehicle and trailer at the corner of Afrikaner and Van Dyk roads in Rand Collieries.
The incident took place at about 10:00 after three occupants of a Mitsubishi signalled to the driver and his passenger that there was a problem with one of the trailer’s tyres.
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The driver stopped on the side of the road to check, when a grey Volvo with four occupants also pulled over. They forced the driver back into the bakkie, while his passenger was forced into the hijackers’ vehicle. The hijackers told the driver to lie face down, and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t co-operate.
The hijackers drove off with him, and he was later transferred to another vehicle and reunited with his passenger. Both victims were then dropped off in the Katlehong area. Four cellphones were also stolen from the victims.
Saturday – A home in Abramowitz Street, Sherwood Gardens, was burgled of a TV, a vacuum cleaner, a handbag, cash and other household items. Entrance was gained by removing the burglar bars from a window.
Sunday – A man was assaulted and robbed at a gambling shop along Kitzinger Avenue. The victim arrived at the shop at around 06:30 and shortly thereafter became involved in a dispute with a security officer, who reportedly refused to let the victim use the restroom.
When the victim grabbed a roll of toilet paper from a nearby counter and attempted to enter the restroom, the officer grabbed him and accused him of stealing.
The victim was taken to a room and locked inside. The officer returned with a colleague, and the pair told the victim they were going to teach him a lesson for stealing.
Both assaulted him with fists, and he was also beaten with a belt and a sjambok. He was also robbed of his cellphone and R600 in cash.
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