A 25-year-old man appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court today, Friday July 22, facing a charge of theft and possession of suspected stolen property.
His court appearance emanates from an incident in which he reportedly went into a certain house in Bethal on Thursday, July 21 and allegedly stole household items.
According to a statement issued from the office of Mpumalanga’s provincial commissioner, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, a woman who was inside the house heard her dogs barking and when she checked outside, she saw a man running away.
The woman noticed two cellphones and some knives had been stolen.
She informed a security guard from ACSU who was patrolling the area in his vehicle.
He traced the suspect to where he was hiding in a church building and apprehended him.
The security guard took the suspect back to the woman’s house.
Members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) were also on board and reported that they were earlier looking for the same suspect after seeing him jump into the woman’s yard.
The man was reportedly found in possession of the stolen items which the woman indicated belongs to her.
Members of the police in Bethal were alerted about the incident and they arrested and charged the suspect.
Lieut-Gen Manamela praised the security guard and CPF members for responding with speed which resulted in the arrest of the suspect.
“We commend the role played by the security officer as well as the CPF members in this case. The phenomenon of crime requires the participation and the collaboration of all structures if we are to succeed. I hope that even other areas will learn this good practice,” said Manamela.
