ALBERTON- At about 01:00 on July 1, a man grabbed the swing on which Shana Gammie was sitting in Gatwick Park, New Redruth, and told her to hand over her cellphone.
Shana, who was with her brother, Daniel, and cousin, Courtney Havenga, shouted for everyone to run and the three just kept going.
Shäne-Lee Goddard, a 12-year-old learner from the Alberton Christian Academy, who was also at the park, says the man also tried to steal his bike.
In the middle of the chaos, Shäne-Lee jumped on his bike and raced to call his dad at home.
His dad, Shane Goddard, pursued the suspect by car, to where he jumped over the wall next to the Ring Road East.
Shane then drove around the block into the Ring Road and found the man hiding in a dip next to the wall. Shane apprehended him and, after realising the man had injured his leg, offered to take him to hospital.
The man declined and CPS Security and emergency services arrived on the scene and took over.
The mother of Shana and Daniel, Sheryl Gammie, will be opening a case of attempted theft against the suspect.
Shana and Courtney were visibly shaken and didn’t want to get out of the car; Shana says they had a real fright.
“I would have gone mad if something happened to my son; we all have a duty in this town to help and take responsibility,” says Shane.
”What would happen if we all just quietly sat by and did nothing?”
