Car thieves caught thanks to guard
A Brooklyn CPF member helped to block a street with his own vehicle to prevent the fleeing thieves from escaping.
Eliot Mahlase
Two car thieves were arrested in Brooklyn on Tuesday after a tip-off from a security guard.
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said the guard saw three men stealing a Volkswagen Polo in Brooks Street in Hatfield around 19:30.
“One of the suspects was armed and he threatened the security guard.”
Weilbach said the three men fled with the stolen WV and a silver Toyota Tazz they arrived in.
“A few moments later, a Brooklyn police patrol vehicle passed and the security guard alerted them. He pointed the police in the right direction,” Weilbach said.
“A chase ensued and other police vehicles responded to the call for back-up. Brooklyn CPF chairperson Paul Fouchee helped to block a street with his private vehicle to prevent the suspects from escaping.”
The Toyota Tazz was forced to stop in Lynnwood Road, Weilbach said.
Police arrested the two men inside the car and seized some tools used to break into a car. The security guard later confirmed the two were among the trio who stole VW Polo.
The third man escaped with the stolen car.
Weilbach said the two arrested men, aged 40 and 27, would appear in the Hatfield Community Court soon.
In another crime about an hour earlier in the same area, a laptop was stolen from the High Performance Centre of the University of Pretoria.
The 26-year-old thief was caught and detained by university security guards.
Weilbach said the security guards gave chase when they saw the man running away with a laptop under his arm.
“During the chase, the suspect dropped the laptop and jumped over fences in a bid to escape,” she said.
“The suspect was handed over to the Brooklyn police who detained him for possession of suspected stolen goods.”
Brooklyn station commander Brigadier Kushie Nair thanked the community for its role in fighting crime.
“It is only through the participation of communities and strengthened partnerships with police that the fight against crime can be won,” Nair said.
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