Alleged thief gets robbed
The car of an alleged thief was burgled at Lyttelton police station after he had spent more than 10 days in a jail.
An alleged thief found himself to be a victim of theft after spending more than 10 days in jail.
Rafiq Patel (40) was arrested on Saturday 17 August for allegedly stealing at a popular shopping centre in the east.
When he was caught, police officers drove his car to Lyttleton police station where it was kept until Patel got out on bail.
According to Patel, he could not get bail on 19 August because the investigating officer could not confirm his address.
“I got a bail hearing on Monday, 29 August and was released on R500 bail.”
Patel did not want to talk about his arrest because the court procedures were still pending.
He said when they got home, his wife received an SMS that said: “You must collect Rafiq’s car at the police station. It is being vandalised.”
“When we got to the car at the police station, the driver’s side window was smashed.”
Patel said he discovered his cellphone, which he had left in the car, had been stolen.
“When I looked through the car I noticed my sound system was also stolen, except the sub-woofer and the amplifier as they were mounted to the floor of the car.”
He said he noticed his car had been parked where the staff from the Lyttelton police station parked their cars.
“There are cameras everywhere at the police station, except for where my car was parked.”
Lyttelton police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller confirmed the two episodes.
“I can confirm Patel was arrested for theft and he also laid a complaint of theft out of his motor vehicle.”
Miller said the matter was under investigation.
“Fingerprints were taken and we are waiting for the results from forensics.”
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