Some criminals are apprehended and removed from society, while others, even though they were arrested, return to their former ways once released. They are called habitual offenders.
The term may imply that the person has been convicted of the same crime many times, but it may also refer to someone who has many convictions for different offences on their record. Habitual offenders may be exposed to harsher legal penalties than first- timers.
The nature of habitual-offender statutes vary, but generally they apply when a person has been convicted twice for various offences.
A great example is when two suspects were arrested by Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit, along with Bossies Community Justice (BCJ) and the SAPS, after attempting to break into a home in Sonheuwel on
May 10. They were spotted entering a resident’s driveway in Norma Street with a Nissan Sentra. A vigilant neighbour called Hi-Tech’s control room.
The suspects were spooked by an alarm and fled empty-handed, only to be surprised by two brave residents who tried to block the entrance. They were nearly run over by the driver of the Nissan.
The thugs eventually got away, but little did they know that Hi-Tech officials were just around the corner, grinding their teeth to get their hands on these malefactors.
After a high-speed chase, the men were forced off the road in Johanna Street and arrested straight away.
A number of potential house-break-in tools were found in the boot and officials were proud to have taken them off the streets. However, something was hindering operations manager of BCJ, Mr Jacques Meiring. These men did not seem like first-time offenders, in fact they looked very familiar to him. Meiring then realised that he had previously arrested one of them, who was involved in a motor vehicle break-in in 2003. In a more recent incident in September 2013, the duo fled from a residence in Kremetart Street where they had broken in to.
After another hot pursuit between them and Hi-Tech, they were also forced off the road and apprehended for the possession of stolen goods including a TV, laptop and jewellery. They were found guilty, but were fined and released.
Hi-Tech manager Mr Vernon Lancaster confirmed that this was not the first time they arrested a habitual criminal for the second or even third time. This made their job very difficult, as especially in this case, the deed had not yet been done, thus it was difficult to find them guilty.
The suspects are currently in custody and the SAPS are investigating the incident. Officals are now trying to connect them to similar cases in and around town. It is, however, ultimately up to the court to decide whether they will be fined and released again, or remain in custody.
