‘Dumb’ Pretoria criminal locked in car

The clearheaded motorist used the remote control to lock the man inside the vehicle.

File image for illustrative purposes. Remote control jamming devices are a common cause of theft out of motor vehicles.

A car guard was arrested for attempted theft on Sunday after he was caught red-handed – locked inside a shopper’s vehicle, Rekord East reports.

Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said this happened when a 22-year-old motorist parked his vehicle in Burnett Street, Hatfield.

“He tried to lock his vehicle but the remote control device was giving problems; he left his vehicle for a few minutes and, when he returned, he found an unknown man inside his vehicle looking for items to steal,”said Weilbach.

Weilbach said: “The motorist remained clearheaded and used the remote control to lock the man inside the vehicle and contacted Brooklyn police, who arrested the 33-year-old suspect on their arrival.”

Weilbach said nothing was stolen and the man appeared in the Hatfield Community Court on Monday on a charge of attempted theft out of a motor vehicle.

She urged drivers to be aware of the use of remote-control jamming devices.

“Drivers must not assume their vehicles are locked when a remote control is used, even when they park their vehicles in shopping malls or controlled parking areas; motorists should physically check whether their car doors were locked before walking away from their vehicle,” Weilbach advised.

“When a remote control device is giving problems, motorists must rather drive away to a safe location where the functioning of the remote control can be tested,” she said.

Weilbach said any loose items left visible inside a vehicle created an opportunity for would-be criminals.

“To prevent theft out of a motor vehicle and smash-and-grab incidents, motorists are advised to lock all loose items inside the boot at all times.”

– Caxton News Service

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