Weekend crime round-up
An overview of crimes reported to Brakpan SAPS from June 13 to 16.
The following crimes were reported to Brakpan police over the long weekend:
Friday – The driver of an unidentified bakkie was robbed of the vehicle after a minor collision at the corner of Airport Drive and Rangeview Road in Dalpark at around 12:15.
The other vehicle involved was an Isuzu with a male driver and a female passenger. These two appeared to be accompanied by four men travelling in a white Volkswagen Polo, who also stopped at the scene of the accident.
After the bumper bash, the driver of the Isuzu told the victim they need to report the accident at the police station.
The group insisted that victim be accompanied on the drive to the police station. After driving off with an escort, the victim was threatened at gunpoint and told to co-operate.
He was then forced into the Polo and his eyes were covered. The victim was also handcuffed and searched, with the hijackers taking his cellphone and R700 in cash.
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He was dropped off along Heidelberg Road (R23) near a petrol station. Cases of hijacking and kidnapping were opened.
• Two batteries were stolen from a truck parked along Airport Drive in Dalpark.
• A home in Ellis Street, Sherwood Gardens, was burgled of a gaming console, a headset and a TV box.
• A female pedestrian was robbed by a man armed with a gun and a knife while walking near Airport Drive in Dalpark.
The incident took place at around 15:45, when the man grabbed the victim from behind and covered her mouth with his hand.
He warned her not to scream, and took her iPhone and handbag, which contained R1 820 cash. The robber then pushed the woman into a bushy area where she picked up half a brick off the ground, and managed to strike her attacker in the face with it.
Despite the hit to the face, the man was able to apprehend the fleeing woman, and he tied her up using the string from his pants.
The robber then used her phone to contact his friends. He pointed a firearm at her, telling her he was going to kill her.
The robber also pressed a knife to the victim’s neck and forced her to use her banking app to transfer money. The victim was able to escape when the man was distracted on the phone, and she ran off in search of help.
An armed robbery case is under investigation.
• A smash-and-grab was reported at the Voortrekker Road and Prince George Avenue intersection. A female motorist was targeted by a lone thief at around 18:20 while she was stationary at the red traffic light.
The thief smashed the passenger window and made off with the woman’s handbag, which was on the seat, containing her cellphone, wallet with cash and other personal belongings.
Saturday – A home along Graaf Street in Sonneveld was burgled of a laptop and accessories, and a TV box.
• Groceries, a TV, a laptop, a kettle and two cellphones were stolen during a break-in at a home in Hospital Road, Sherwood Gardens.
• A white Nissan NP200 was stolen from Victoria Avenue.
• Liquor and cigarettes with a combined value of R135 000 were stolen during a break-in at a business along Victoria Avenue.
Sunday – No priority cases were reported at the time of publication.
Monday – A gold-coloured Toyota Etios was stolen from an address along Wenden Avenue.
