A YOUNG man (20) made a poor choice when he decided to steal from a house in lower Albersville last Tuesday (July 11).
The unlucky thief was seen running towards the Umzimkhulu River carrying the spoils – a television set and various electrical appliances – and police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid, who was on duty in the Port Shepstone CBD, happened to hear the report on the police radio.
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“On the spur of the moment, I decided to drive down towards the river and I couldn’t believe my eyes. When I drove around a bend in the road, I saw the man walking towards me with the loot in his arms,” she said. “The television set was wrapped in a white sheet.”
Lt-Col Wiid quickly sent out a description of the suspect. When she stopped next to him, he kept on walking and she called for back-up.
The man quickly tried to board a minibus taxi which had stopped further down the road, but when Lt-Col Wiid approached the taxi, it sped off, leaving the suspected thief stranded.
“He ran into nearby bushes. When back-up arrived, two officers and a patrol dog began searching the bush. The dog followed a spoor for some time, but then it abruptly ended,” she said.
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However it was not the thief’s lucky day. Warrant Officer Willow le Roux and Sergeant Innocent Nhlumayo from the Port Shepstone K9 unit were also responding from another direction and as they neared the scene, the very same suspect strolled straight into their path.
He again attempted to flee, but this time his luck ran out. He was arrested and the stolen property, which was identified by the owner, was recovered.
“He will face charges of theft and possession of stolen property,” said Lt-Col Wiid.
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