It took just three days for justice to be meted out when three robbers, Sanele Xaba (22), Simphiwe Cele (19) and Nkululeko Bhengu (21) each received 18-month sentences on Wednesday 21 August, after they broke into a home at Rosanda Villa, in Pinetown on Monday 19 August.
The domestic worker heard a commotion in the main bedroom and on inspection saw the three burglars breaking into the home. She subsequently snuck out of the home, said Averil Hunter, the home owner, who was not at home at the time of the burglary.
Captain Neil Thaver, of the Shongweni K9 Unit, confirmed that W/O Warren Hutt and Const Andries Siboza, with their patrol dog, were first on the scene. Capt Dumisani Dladla and Student Const L Thabethe, of the Pinetown Police station also responded to the scene.
“When they arrived W/O Hutt and Const Siboza observed that the suspects were still on the premises. The suspects were moving a flat screen television in the main bedroom,” said Capt Thaver.
“Const Siboza went into the house and gave the suspects a verbal warning and when they did not respond he sent in the patrol dog. With the assistance of the patrol dog W/O Hutt and Const Siboza were able to apprehend the three suspects. One suspect was hiding in the bedroom and the other two were hiding in the lounge and the bathroom,” said Capt Thaver.
All of Hunt’s possessions were recovered, including the television, a set of speakers and rings that were found in the pockets of one of the robbers, said Capt Thaver.
Hunter told the Highway Mail that she was very impressed and grateful to all the officers who responded to the burglary.
“The dog caused a lot of damage to my home. There was blood everywhere, but the officers were fantastic. W/O Hutt calmed everybody down. The officers were also very thorough. On Monday they were still taking DNA samples and finger prints at 10pm. They also took samples at a home that was broken in to next door. They thought that the incidents might be connected,” said Hunter. Lt Justice Manqele, the communications officer at Pinetown SAPS, could not confirm if the incidents were connected.
