Cellphone app aids swift recovery of stolen goods
Holidaymakers retrieve stolen goods within a few hours.
Excellent police work by Umhlali SAPS saw two criminals arrested and stolen goods returned within an hour of the crime being reported.
On Sunday January 11, André Mochan and his family, on holiday in Ballito from Johannesburg, were spending the last day of their holiday at Thompson’s Bay tidal pool.
While they were swimming, two thieves stole valuable items from Mochan’s bag.
“Because the bag had our iPhones and iPad and other valuables in it, I covered it with a towel while we swam in the adjacent tidal pool,” said Mochan.
“When I got out of the water I saw the bag had been opened and the iPad, my wife’s iPhone and both our prescription glasses and a pair of sunglasses were gone.”
Fortunately the criminals missed Mochan’s iPhone and he could call the Umhlali SAPS who responded immediately.
Mochan used the “Find my iPhone” application to track the stolen iPad and iPhone signals and began following them towards Shakashead.
The police instructed him not to go into the township alone and he met them on Shakas Rock Road where it crosses over the N2.
Two vehicles responded, including the Umhlali K9 unit.
It was decided to enter the township in Mochan’s private car so as to not alert the thieves.
“I parked my car at the last point where the signal had been picked up and from there the police continued the search on foot.”
He said within no more than five minutes the police returned with two criminals hand cuffed and their recovered iPhone and iPad.
“Apparently the police caught the criminals just as they were about to hand over the stolen items to someone else.”
He said the sunglasses and prescription glasses were not found and since the glasses were not insured he would be very grateful if the public could keep a look out for them.
“I was very impressed with warrant officer Vinny Pillay and his team at the Umhlali SAPS and K9 units. The way they handled my case was excellent and highly professional.”
He said only two hours passed from the time he called the police until the arrests were made, statements taken and cases opened.
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