Two suspected housebreakers were apprehended and stolen property recovered by the Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO) in Winklespruit on Sunday morning, 23 October.
“A neighbour noticed a man stealing a plastic table and chairs from a house in Hunt Road at about 7.30am,” said CCPO committee member, George Snodey.
They called the CCPO and supervisor, Michael Mkhize and his crewman arrived. The man fled with the table and chairs but with the CCPO in pursuit, he dumped the stolen goods and fled towards Umgababa.
On Monday, 24 October, Snodey was in Wytham Harvey Road when he noticed two men acting suspiciously. He observed them for a while and then went to investigate.
“The two were walking away from the property when I stopped them to question their behaviour,” he said.
“I noticed the one had cut his finger, which was still bleeding, and called for assistance.”
Senior supervisor, Rupert Smit and CCPO and Blue Security patrol officer, Mbuyiselo ‘Triple M’ Mdunjane arrived and the men were taken back to the premises where they were last seen.
“On arrival there was evidence of them having walked down the bank to the fence and blood was found on the palisade fencing where the one had tried to gain entry.
After more questioning it was found the one man had just been released from jail for housebreaking, so a decision was made to take them to Toti CID for them to be properly profiled.
Thanks to ET Rapid Response who also rushed out to assist.”
In a separate incident, diligence from Triple M and his crew netted a brace of house robbers and recovered stolen goods on Tuesday, 25 October.
According to Snodey, a high pressure cleaner and chainsaw were stolen in a housebreaking at Nkonka flats in Kingsway, Amanzimtoti at about 9pm on Monday, 24 October.
“Triple M and his crew came across two men carrying a high pressure cleaner in Toti CBD at about 11am the next day,” said Snodey. “As they could not get hold of the caretaker at Inkonka flats or the complainant to get a description of the cleaning device, they were forced to let the men go.”
However, Triple M took photos of the men and when the complainant contacted him with a description, took to the streets to search for them.
He caught up with them near Hutchison Park, minus the cleaner, but they took him to Felekisi to where they had sold it.
It was recovered but when they took him to the place where the chainsaw was sold, the homeowner wasn’t home.
The two men and the stolen goods were handed over to Toti SAPS and a case opened.
A local pawnbroker came to the rescue of the Umkomaas library on Thursday, 20 October when he notified the CCPO that thieves were attempting to sell their stolen booty.
Alan Kuhnel, an employee at Macro Pawn in Warner Beach became suspicious when two men walked in with two Lenovo core I5 computers and screens, valued at about R12,000 each.
After receiving a call for assistance, Triple M and Snodey arrived quickly as the men were trying to leave.
When they questioned the men separately, they found their stories didn’t match up.
“Eventually the truth prevailed and they admitted to having broken into the library the previous night and stolen the computers from there,” said Snodey.
Umkomaas police were contacted and they carted the two thieves back to Umkomaas to investigate further.
Alan had high praise for the CCPO and said there was a genuine need for this type of organisation that can arrive in minutes to assist, as the men were becoming edgy and wanting to leave. With the CCPO’s swift arrival, they were able to apprehend the thieves and recover the valuable stolen property.
“If anyone hasn’t joined the CCPO to assist us in the fight against crime, imagine the consequences if the organisation closed its doors due to the lack of support and interest from local residents and businesses,” said Snodey.
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