Kinross Police retrieve stolen goods left behind by fleeing burglars

KINROSS – Real cops do not lose their passion for fighting crime when they are off duty.

This is according to Sgt Esther Nhlapo, former Kinross Police spokesman who is now working at Kriel Police Station. She was key to helping the Kinross Police retrieve stolen goods last Tuesday.

Sgt Nhlapo lives in Thistle Grove and arrived at home from work at about 11am last Tuesday to find her house was without water. She decided to inspect the outside tap and then spotted a white minibus in the driveway of her neighbour, Capt Cynthia Kgwedi.

“I found it strange, because I knew the captain was at work and I have also never seen this vehicle before.”

Sgt Nhlapo went into her house to have a better view from the top of her double story house.

“I saw these men with axes hacking open my neighbour’s kitchen door and then carrying items from the house to their minibus. I tell you, they were fast, they were loaded up under three minutes and ready to leave. By this time the house alarm was also blaring.”

Sgt Nhlapo already called the station commander, Capt Gerhard Elmes, but realised the thieves would be gone before backup arrived.

She decided to follow the minibus in her private vehicle, gun at her side and cell phone on her lap.

“They had two directions in which they could escape so I tailed them past the Kosmos flats towards Ext 25. At the main road they turned right towards Kinross town. Capt Elmes was coming from the opposite direction and made a U-turn.”

As the suspects turned right onto the Evander road, they must have noticed that the police were behind them. With Capt Elmes on their heels, the suspects sped towards eMbalenhle. Sgt Nhlapo followed suit. The chase took them onto a very bad road where the police could not cross.

“We knew the road led back to the entrance so we headed in on the other side. The thieves must have known that they were trapped and abandoned the vehicle with all the stolen goods still inside,” Sgt Nhlapo said.

According to Capt Bettina Zondo, spokesman of the Secunda cluster, the thieves left their loot in the vehicle, as well as a loaded gun. The vehicle is registered to a taxi owner in Gauteng.

“We suspect the burglaries in our area are being committed by gangs from Gauteng,” Capt Zondo said.

Capt Kgwedi said other stolen goods were also found inside the minibus.

“I am thankful that my property was recovered so quickly.”

She said the burglars gained access to her yard by breaking open the heavy steel gate and then forcing their way into the house by first breaking open the security gate and then hacking open the wooden back door.

Capt Zondo said it is important for neighbours to know each other on a level where you can notice vehicles that do not belong to your neighbours.

“Know your neighbours, look out for one another and keep their cell phone numbers at hand.”