Mob pelts suspected Sheppard Drive housebreaker to death with bricks
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday November 4. Two suspects had allegedly broken into the property that morning. One managed to escape while the other was caught and killed.
A man was pelted to death with some bricks after he had allegedly broken into a student residence on Friday morning, November 4.
It is alleged that two suspected housebreakers had entered the student residence on Sheppard Drive, formerly Matopos Lodge, and had begun stealing items from some of the students. Apparently, some of them realised the accommodation had been broken into, and began chasing the two suspects. It seemed a mob was formed, and while one suspect managed to flee the scene, the second was caught.
Nelspruit Police Station’s spokesperson, Captain Zandile Gqawa, said the man was pelted to death with bricks by the mob. She said he has not yet been identified. The other suspect fled with laptops, a watch, a cellphone and groceries, all from the residence.
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“A case of murder was opened. So far, no one has been arrested. The police are still in pursuit of the perpetrators. We are also investigating a burglary case.”
The residence’s owner, Amos Mdluli, said he had not been there at the time of the incident, but was called shortly after the suspect had been killed.
“The incident occurred inside the student housing at 04:30 on Friday. I called the police immediately, but they only arrived at 07:00.
“It was very disturbing, and while I do not condone the killing of the suspect, Friday’s break-in was not the first time the residence had been burgled. Other student accommodations around Mbombela have also recently been targeted by criminal activity,” said Mdluli.
“It seems that criminals have been upping their activity. The residence was broken into in September, October and then on Friday.”
He said he was aware of another break-in that had occurred at a student residence in Koraalboom Avenue on Friday night as well.
Gqawa confirmed the robbery in Koraalboom and said it took place at 21:00.
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“Two suspects pounced on an unsuspecting student at the residential place. They allegedly threatened him with a firearm and demanded cellphones and laptops. It is also alleged that the suspects further forced the student to show them to the other students’ rooms, where they robbed cellphones and laptops. The police are investigating a case of house robbery, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
“A team of investigators are working on these cases to ensure that the suspects are soon brought to book, as the situation cannot be allowed to continue unabated by the police,” she said.
Gqawa said the police asked the public to aid the police to put an end to this current trend by refraining from buying stolen goods, “because some members of the community are exacerbating the situation by purchasing stolen items from criminals.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Colonel Donald Mkhaliphi on 079 230 3126 or the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Alternatively, send information via the My SAPS app. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
