PROACTIVE police work resulted in the recovery of stolen property, just hours after the crimes had been committed.
Homeowners were highly impressed with Sergeant Desmond Theunissen from the K9 unit in Port Shepstone, and his patrol dog Rex, when they recovered stolen property from three separate housebreakings in the Umzumbe and Shelly Beach areas.
Sgt Theunissen and Rex responded to a housebreaking complaint at Summer Place, Umzumbe on December 30 at 4.30am.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid, said a homeowner informed Sgt Theunissen that expensive cameras, cellphones, wallets, computer equipment and personal documents had been stolen.
“The housebreakers gained entry by removing a glass door,” said Lt-Col Wiid.
Sgt Theunissen, accompanied by another K9 unit member from Port Shepstone, Sergeant Neels Pretorius, set off inland and followed the spoor to a house in Umzumbe.
They recovered the stolen property, worth more than R40 000. Lt-Col Wiid said no arrests had been made yet.
Two days later Sgt Theunissen responded to a housebreaking in Windsor Road, Shelly Beach, where property to the value of R9 400 had been stolen.
He and Rex tracked the spoor, accompanied by Constable Mark Banjo and Constable Senzo Nzama from the K9 unit.
They recovered all the property, which included a plasma screen television, computer tower and clothing, in a nearby bush.
No arrests have been made yet.
Sgt Theunissen also recovered an iPad in Umzumbe after following spoor with Rex on January 4, in the afternoon.
Lt-Col Wiid said a woman had woken up after hearing a noise at her house at Moonlit Bay, Pumula at about 3.45am.
“She saw two men at the door, as well as an assegai lying on the floor. When she shouted to her husband the men ran away,” she said.
Sgt Theunissen and Rex then followed the spoor, which led to the recovery of the iPad which had been abandoned in the bush.
