Pretoria East woman continues search for missing dogs, vehicle
Li-ann Grobler was about 2m away from her Toyota Fortuner when she was accosted by an unknown suspect outside her two boys’ mathematics tutoring facility.
A 44-year-old woman is still desperately searching for her two dogs that were in a her vehicle when it was stolen in the east of Pretoria earlier this week.
Li-Ann Grobler’s Toyota Fortuner was stolen on Monday, along with her personal belongings such as cellphones as well as her dogs, Bella and Nuggie, while she waited for her sons outside a math tutoring facility.
Grobler and a search team are currently scouring parts of the east for a white-and-brown female Boston terrier and a silver-and-beige female Schnauzer.
Her dogs are both sterilised and microchipped.
She also implored motorists to look out for her white Toyota Fortuner (YJR 431 GP).
Grobler was about 2m from her car when she was accosted by an unknown suspect outside her boys’ mathematics tutoring facility.
Search and Rescue coordinator Christelle Brits said Grobler was talking to the tutor when a man jumped into her car.
“Grobler was waiting in her car outside the math tutor’s house and the gate was open. Her dogs were also in the car.
At one point she hopped out of the vehicle to talk to the teacher, then a man jumped into the vehicle.”
Grobler gave chase and tried to grab the carkeys through the driver’s open window the thief fought her off and she could not stop the theft.
The incident occurred on February 12 at 19:25 at Hardekool Avenue, Val de Grace, east of Pretoria.
Since then a case has been opened with police, while a search parade has been pressed to find the missing dogs.
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Brits said on Tuesday, a cell phone that belonged to one of Grobler’s sons was tracked to Nellmapius Road.
She said Bronkhorstspruit K9 unit Warrant-Officer Mias Snyman and Danie Du Plessis of the Tshwane metro went to the location but could not uncover a solid lead.
“When we arrived, there was no vehicle and no dog.”
She said later a source informed her team that they had spotted one of the dogs in Silverton on Pretoria Road near ABC Sweets, injured.
The source had identified the dog from missing-dog posters the team had put up in the area.
“On Thursday, a domestic worker directed us to a spot near ABC Sweets where she had spotted one of the dogs wandering about.
We searched the area further for about an hour from 21:00 but could not find them.”
She said they planned to continue the search.
“We believe the dogs are still be in the area.”
Brits advised motorists to instal two tracking devices in their vehicles to increase their chances of recovery when stolen.
Anyone with more information can contact Li-Ann on 066 203 9787, Brits on 079 526 5708 or their nearest police station.
Police were yet to comment on the matter.
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