WHITE RIVER – A stolen iPad was used to locate suspects in a farm attack that took place in the Heidelberg Valley on Tuesday.
Prof Roger Fisher, a retired academic who farms in the area, told Lowvelder that the incident took place around 23:30. Fisher said four men entered through an outside door of the bathroom where they were surprised by his housemate, Mr Frank Gaylard, who first woke up and scuffled with the burglars. Fisher also woke up and tried to assist Gaylard.
They were then both overpowered and tied up. The struggle left both men with a few bruises and Fisher with a minor knife wound. According to him, after demanding cellphones, money and the keys to their vehicles, the burglars fled in his white Corsa bakkie.
The victim’s dog ran off and was the first to alert neighbour, Mr Mark Atwood. Fisher and Gaylard managed to free themselves and went next door to alert Const Sonnyboy Matsane, a member of the community policing forum.
A reaction unit arrived soon afterwards. The tracker signal of the stolen iPad was activated and led them directly to where the criminals were hiding in a house in Masoyi several kilometres away.
During a raid one of them was arrested, and others tried to get away in the stolen bakkie. Apparently the vehicle was cleverly hidden in a nearby yard.
The officers apparently opened fire when the suspects were speeding away. The vehicle came to a standstill and they disappeared into the bush.
One of the attackers was wounded in the shoot-out, but was later tracked down by the SAPS. He had called for an ambulance which the police in the vicinity then subsequently followed. He is currently in police custody in a local hospital.
The two fugitives were identified by officers photographs found in the house in Masoyi.
The bakkie was riddled with bullet holes and also had a broken window and blood stains, and was returned to the owners along with the iPad and other stolen goods.
Official comment from the police had not been received at the time of going to print.
