Three men were arrested on Saturday for allegedly being involved in a smash-and-grab on the N14 Ben Schoeman highway. The police, together with the Lyttelton Sector 1 Community Policing (CPF) Sub-forum, reacted to reports of a vehicle standing without lights on the highway. Lyttelton police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Hero Gumbu, said that the suspects drove off in a white Hyundai as the getaway vehicle when the police approached them.
The suspects were arrested on the N14 highway when the police pulled over the vehicle, Gumbu confirmed.
This type of crime has become a headache in Centurion for motorists as well as authorities. A women recently witnessed a smash-and-grab incident on Lenchen Avenue, close to Builders Warehouse. According to Madren Pitsi, the suspect smashed the passenger window of the vehicle behind her. “I saw the man forcing part of his head in the passenger side. It happened so quickly,” Pitsi said. Before she could react, the suspect ran away with what looked to her like a cellphone. “He had something small in his hand but it was not a handbag,” Pitsi said.
Pitsi said she focussed on where he was going, but only saw that he ran underneath the bridge on Lenchen Avenue and disappeared.
According to eyewitnesses, the victim bled, but it was uncertain whether the blood came from her face or hand and whether she was cut by the broken glass. “I have heard of many incidents at this intersection, but I never believed it until I saw it myself,” Pitsi said. After this incident, Ward Councillor Peter Sutton immediately reacted and set up a petition to erect signage on this road.
Pitsi sent out an e-mail to the CPF to suggest that signs be erected to warn the public of criminal hotspot areas.
According to Sutton, Tshwane has objected to this suggestion for various reasons. Tshwane said that these types of signs do not comply with the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual (SARTSM) and, therefore, are not legal signs.
“Many people do not know that this is a criminal hotspot,” said Sutton. “They should be warned to be vigilant and alert.” Ward Councillor Clive Napier addressed this issue with the metro police. “I had a meeting last week with the metro police concerning this matter. They are aware of the problem, but are constrained by the lack of resources,” Napier told Rekord.
