AMIEL PARK – Response members of Newcastle 911 Community Policing were on their toes this past week.
Things began with a late callout on August 30.
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A frantic resident reported finding a young woman in the road in Amiel Park, in severe pain and claiming to have been poisoned.
Response members, SAPS and emergency medics rushed to the scene.
Although the case remains unresolved, it was determined the young woman left her home in Dannhauser that morning, en route to school.
At some point, she was abducted by two men in a vehicle.
The woman claimed she was tied and her clothing torn, before the men robbed her, forced a liquid down her throat, and ejected her from the vehicle.
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Fortunately, she was stabilised and transported to hospital for further care.
Founder of the Newcastle 911 branch, Tillie Kirkland said the situation had been problematic, but turned out far better.
The following morning, a burglary was reported in Schuinshoogte.
According to the call-in, a resident awoke when his alarm tripped, to find his television had been stolen.
Response members immediately spread out to search the veld areas.
In conjunction with SAPS, members spent many long hours scouring the overgrowth in pursuit of the burglary suspects.
“It was wonderful to work hand-in-hand with SAPS to pursue the suspects. Our members continued until after 6am, and I’m very proud of them.”
On September 1, at 9.26am, a response member called in for back-up, after he spotted two men carrying a geyser into the veld in Barry Hertzog Park.
He gave chase on foot, when the men dropped the geyser and jumped a wall.
After a long pursuit, which involved the suspects entering properties in an attempt to escape, one was apprehended by SAPS in Amajuba Park.
A second suspect was brought in from his hideaway near the N11.
It was confirmed the geyser had been broken open, and was later found to have been ripped from the ceiling of a house in the neighbourhood.
A short while later, the third and final suspect was found under the train bridge.
While this action was on the go, the 911 control room received a call regarding a vehicle stolen from a shopping complex in Hutten Heights.
The primary suspect was caught on CCTV camera, and the chase ensued.
Response members pursued the stolen vehicle and the vehicle driven by the suspect, through Utrecht towards Vryheid, where local farmers had barricaded the road.
The driver of the stolen vehicle was forced over and taken into custody.
The man caught on CCTV, however, sped onto a dirt road towards Blood River, where he was eventually halted and the vehicle abandoned.
He fled into a copse of trees and escaped.
In conclusion, Mrs Kirkland commended her response team members for a tough, but well-handled week of incidents.
