WITH little to go on, two dogged detectives tracked down a handyman who helped himself to goods from a Bluff home he was renovating on Thursday, 12 May.
A Tomich Road resident had employed a man to do renovations at her home.
He in turn employed someone on his behalf to complete the work when he was unable to do so.
On 12 May, the woman left her home while the renovations were ongoing. When she returned, she found the house had been broken into and jewellery, a mobile phone and a 55cm plasma television were missing.
The handyman was the prime suspect.
Brighton Beach SAPS detectives, Constables Samukelo Memela and Magugu Mamela interviewed neighbouring domestic workers, gardeners and home owners and were only able to glean a name and description of the man.
Police informers were activated and after a number of false starts, the two officers followed a tip to Avoca Hills on 16 May.
There they found the stolen TV in the possession of a man who confirmed the suspected handyman was the man he got it from. He then led police to the alleged thief, where police found the remaining stolen wares.
The 23-year-old man was arrested and appeared in the Durban regional court on 19 May, charged with housebreaking and theft. He will make a second court appearance soon.
Cst Memela appeals to home owners to use the services of registered and reputable businesses when doing home renovations.
“If you are going to employ a person who has been referred to you, request to have a copy of his or her identification document, ensuring you have viewed the original. Request an employment history from at least three persons with names, surnames, physical addresses, mobile and landline numbers, before agreeing to the employment. Also, if you suspect a person you intend to hire might have criminal intentions, make enquiries at your local police station,” said Cst Memela.
Brighton Beach SAPS management applauds the detective pair on the arrest and recovery of all stolen items.
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