POLOKWANE – Two of three would-be armed robbers were apprehended through a joint effort between Tom Naudé Technical High School learners, municipal workers and a motorist.
The three would-be robbers who were allegedly armed with knives, tried to take a cellphone from one of the learners in a park opposite the school.
A spokesperson for the Edwel neighbourhood watch spoke to Review on condition of anonymity in order to protect himself as well as his family. He said this was the third cellphone robbery since October 27 in the area. A female learner also lost her computer tablet when she was robbed in the area the previous week.
Four gr. 11 learners, who asked not to be named, were on their way home from school when one of them stopped to fasten his shoelaces. They were walking in pairs next to each other near the dam in the park.
Three men approached them from the front. One of the men took out a knife and told the learner who had stopped earlier to hand over his cell phone.
The learner did not want to give the robber his phone and called out to his friend. His friend returned and another one of the men took out a knife. The other two learners also approached at a signal from the first two learners. At this, the would-be robbers fled the scene and dropped the learner’s cellphone in the process.
The learners gave chase and the fleeing men were apprehended by some municipal workers, but were released when the said they were “fighting about girls”.
The learners shouted to the municipal workers that the men had tried to rob them, and the municipal workers joined in the chase.
One of the suspects was caught as he was trying to climb over a palisade fence and another suspect was caught when a motorist blocked his path with his motor vehicle.
When the motorists alighted from his vehicle, the suspect allegedly tried to take the car by force, but the motorist prevented him from doing so.
On the arrival of Edwel members to the scene following an emergency call, the learners had already caught two of the men, who were then handcuffed and handed over by Edwel members to the police when they arrived.
The third culprit, who had also been carrying a knife, got away.
The two suspects were apparently learners from a Seshego school and lived in Seshego zone 2.
Marijuana was found on the suspects and a large knife was confiscated.
One of the learners told Review: “What those guys did was not right and they are still young! One was 19 and the other 21.”
Polokwane police spokesperson, WO Lesiba Ramoshaba said the police were investigating the case and were on the third suspect’s trail.
Edwel management warned that criminals seemed to be preparing for Christmas, and crime in the area was escalating.
On Thursday a burglar broke into a house in Genl de la Rey Street. However, he was sidetracked by the homeowner’s liquor stock and allegedly started imbibing on the spot. He eventually fled the scene leaving the tools of his trade behind, when the domestic worker summoned assistance from neighbours and Edwel.
According to the domestic worker he was dressed in blue trousers and a blue jersey or sweater and wore a blue beanie on his head.
This incident followed a few days after the robbery and assault of an elderly couple in the area.
Edwel requested people in the area to become involved with the neighbourhood watch, who can be contacted at 074 163 3933.
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