TWO robbers were arrested in the early hours of Thursday, 17 March by Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO) response officers after they stole an extension cord in Kingsway, Amanzimtoti at about 3am.
According to CCPO committee member, George Snodey, the two men were seen jumping over a wall by a neighbour.
“They were seen grabbing something and jumping back over. He contacted the CCPO and they were apprehended with the stolen item in their possession,” said Snodey.
“They were taken back to the premises, where the owner positively identified the property as his, but he was reluctant to open a case, resulting in the two robbers being released to carry on plying their trade.”
he was reluctant to open a case, resulting in the two robbers being released to carry on plying their trade
In a separate incident during the same morning, a housebreaker managed to escape apprehension by a resident after he tried to break into a complex in Kingsway, Amanzimtoti, also in the early hours.
“A woman who lives on the first floor was awoken by a noise on her balcony,” said Snodey. “She phoned her son who lives downstairs. When he confronted the robber who was trying to jump over the boundary wall, the robber managed to wriggle loose and escape.”
Fortunately he left behind his bag containing a car guard vest and a pair of running shoes. His luck worsened when CCPO staff identified the items as belonging to a known housebreaker who was recently released from prison.
By lunchtime the barefoot robber was found in Beach Road, where he was apprehended and taken to Toti SAPS.
In yet another, unrelated incident, car thieves were thwarted when a CCPO guard spotted them pushing a vehicle in Riverside Road at about midnight on Friday, 18 March.
“The guard shouted at them and they scattered into nearby bushes,” said Snodey.
It was later found the car had been stolen from Lords and Legends. It was taken to the police station, where it was safeguarded until the owner could be traced.
Earlier that day in another incident, two housebreakers were caught during a combined effort by local security companies and Toti SAPS.
“We received a call about a housebreaking in Burne Road at about 2pm,” said Snodey.
The area was immediately cordoned off by CCPO, Blue Security, ET Rapid Response and Toti SAPS members.
One of the CCPO/Blue Security reaction officers caught one of the housebreakers running on the railway line, while ET Rapid Response South Coast managing member, Tony Lokker apprehended the other.
“The robbers had forced open a window and bent the burglar bars to gain entry,” said Snodey.
Both robbers were detained by Toti SAPS.
On Sunday, 20 March two men were apprehended after they tried to sell a drill in Warner Beach.
“After getting a description of the two men, response officer Michael Mkhize and other CCPO vehicles patrolled the area until they found the two men in High Level Road in Doonside with the drill in their possession,” said Snodey.
It was established that one of the men had stolen it from a premises in Wilger Avenue where he worked.”
They were taken to the premises, where the owner positively identified the drill. The men were arrested when he opened a case of theft.
