Thief grabs paramedics’ phone through ambulance window

AN opportunistic cellphone thief came up short on Wednesday morning, when a wide awake security guard noticed him snatch a cellphone out of a paramedics’ hand through her ambulance window.

Paramedic, Maryna de Bruin, was stationary at the stop street at the intersection of Hibiscus and Durnford roads at around 10am, when she noticed two men standing on opposite corners of the street.

‘I saw the men but did not think anything of them.

‘At that moment my phone rang and as an emergency services worker I have to answer at all times.

‘As I raised the phone to my ear, the one guy moved in and snatched the phone right out of my hand through the window,’ said De Bruin.

A security guard who was parked nearby, saw the events unfold.

‘I immediately started chasing the one who got the phone. Next thing I see the security guard also giving chase.’

The guard quickly caught up to the suspect, managing to apprehend him without incident.

‘I still can’t believe this guy would commit a robbery in broad daylight like this. What did he expect? That I would just watch him run off?’

De Bruin was thankful that the security guard acted so fast.

‘My whole life is on that phone. I am very grateful to him.’

The suspect was handed over to Empangeni SAPS to be charged.