Man’s best friend played a key role in the arrest of a man who robbed a woman of her cellphone on February 16.

Police information reveals the incident took place at around 12:30 near the corner of Stoffberg Avenue and Station Road, while the victim was out looking for a friend.

While she was walking near the railway bridge in the area, she was passed by a man who then continued to walk in front of her.

He was joined by another man who walked behind her. When the man in front turned and looked at the victim, she asked him if he had seen her friend, intending to distract him.

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He replied that he had not, but then moved to walk behind her. The same man then grabbed the victim, threatened her with a knife, and demanded her cellphone.

Fearing for her safety, she handed over the device. Both men then took off, running towards Goods Road.

The victim chased after them, but lost sight of the second man near a panel beating business.

She continued to follow the man who had taken her phone and saw him get into a bakkie parked outside the panel beater.

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He then got out of the vehicle and entered a residential property along Hoy Street. The victim started screaming outside the home in an attempt to get help.

It was soon discovered a dog in the yard had bitten the man, allowing the homeowner to locate him. The man was found inside a wardrobe in a flat on the premises.

Police were called and he was arrested. He initially denied taking the cellphone but returned it to the victim. The device is valued at R1 000.

The man was taken by ambulance under police guard to the Far East Rand Hospital for medical attention. A case of armed robbery is under investigation by Brakpan SAPS.