POLOKWANE – After Polokwane Police Station Commander, Brig Lucas Mogwaneng, rolled out the first part of his action plan, a car guard stopped a criminal in his tracks after a smash and grab incident in Hans van Rensburg Street on Tuesday.
Mogwaneng gave street car guards and car washers reflective vests during a meeting two weeks ago to bring them under the umbrella of the police and the community policing forum (CPF).
The car guard, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he was patrolling the vehicles under his care when he saw a man running in his direction.
He saw another man running after the first man shouting “thief”.
“In a flash decision I blocked the fleeing man. He wanted to give me the phone to hide and keep on running, but I grabbed his hand and held onto him,” the guard explained.
He said that he handed the cell phone to the man who was chasing the suspect.
The suspect managed to escape when the car guard gave the man back his phone.
The owner of the phone, Tsakani Mashudu, said was thankful for the security guard who did not have to get involved, but made the choice to stop the thief and return her cell phone.
Mogwaneng said actions like these show that the community and residents are joined in the fight against crime.
He said the city’s residents should feel safe and getting them mobilised to help fight crime helps in this regard.
The security guard was rewarded by the Mashudu family for his efforts and for retrieving the phone.
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