Patrol unit smashes smash and grabbers’ hiding spot
Smash and grabbers' hiding spot revealed.
AfriForum neighbourhood watch has located the hiding spot of smash and grabbers in Pretoria West and returned stolen items found there to their rightful owners.
Branch chairperson Francois Oberholzer said his patrol team discovered the spot in the Magalies mountain between Danville and Hercules during a patrol.
“During patrols this month, we recovered and returned stolen wallets, credit cards and drivers’ licences to their rightful owners.”
Last Friday, Oberholzer said he and his team had successfully kept smash and grab thieves away from Pretoria West.
“We saw a couple of guys who we believe were involved in the smash and grabs around Pretoria West. The team managed to scare them off.”
“They fled to Marabastad but we couldn’t run after them as we had no backup from the police,” he said.
He said the neighbourhood watch responded to a scene where a young woman was tied up during a house robbery in Philip Nel Park.
“We were informed that the woman had a financial dispute with workers that escalated to workers tying her up and taking valuable house items before fleeing.”
Oberholzer couldn’t confirm what the stolen items were.
“The victim was too traumatised to talk. The woman’s father, who is the owner of the house, was not present during the robbery.”
“A Ford Bantam was also hijacked that same night but we couldn’t trace it as we came to the scene late.”
Pretoria West police could not be reached for comment.
In March, Danville residents took it upon themselves to patrol their neighbourhood after house break-ins escalated.
A month later, one of the patrollers, Thesigan Pillay, told Rekord although crime had decreased in the area police still needed to intervene.
“We have had meetings with the police to address this issue but no action has been taken on their side.”
“We do not have the proper equipment to take on armed criminals. We rely on instincts and safety in numbers,” said Pillay.
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