An armed robber is still at large after he viciously assaulted a 53-year-old resident from Wonderboom South.
Paul Breedt and one of his employees were on their way to Taaifontein Street in Montana to buy old motor parts when the 30-year-old suspect allegedly attacked Breedt.
Breedt and his assailant had worked together for almost a year before the attack. “Both of us drove to different rural areas to buy old motor parts, which meant that most of the time I only had cash on me,” Breedt said.
Before the brutal attack, Breedt’s assailant told him that they had one more stop to make before returning home. The suspect made various phone calls to confirm a ‘pick-up’. “He led me to Taaifontein Street where we waited for the seller. He made a few follow-up phone calls and said that the seller was five minutes away. Suddenly and without warning, he grabbed the firearm that I had hid between the seats and repeatedly hit me over the head with it.”
According to Breedt, he kept the licensed firearm in his vehicle for protection. After taking three heavy blows to the head, Breedt went numb on the left side of his body but managed to fight his attacker off. The suspect pulled Breedt from the passenger side of the vehicle and continued to assault him. “We fought for a few minutes but he managed to break free from my grip. It seemed as if he wanted to shoot me, but thankfully the safety was on. After he fled I lost consciousness,” he said.
He added that the suspect fled with his money, firearm, vehicle keys, ID, bank cards and driver’s license. Breedt was transported to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital where he was treated for a skull fracture and various wounds on his body. According to Breedt, the suspect was wearing a blue tracksuit top, jeans and shirt, a black cap and had a backpack.
Sergeant Portia Maleka, spokesperson for the Kameeldrift police station, confirmed the attack and said the suspect is still at large. She said the man is in his thirties, has a clean-shaven head and a strong build and might be living in Mamelodi. “If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they should phone the police station or the investigating officer immediately,” Maleka said.
For any enquiries or information, contact Constable Ngoetjana on 082-580-8038 or 012-812-8244.
