Boksburg North CPF helps catch festive season burglars

According to Sector 1 chairperson Denise Curry, the incident happened on Saturday morning, December 21 when one of the community patrollers, Willie du Preez, encountered distraught community members on Frelon Road, Impala Park.

The family had arrived to find burglars still in their house.

Du Preez immediately called for backup from other patrollers who included Simon Kops, Clive Curry, Francois Squire and Brian Miller on their new two-way radio system.

“When the suspects realised that they were caught in the act, they fled from the house, loading the goods on the back of their bakkie to head for the N12 with patrollers hot on their heels,” says Curry.

“An off-duty detective, constable Phuti Mabotja, saw the high-speed chase through traffic and signalled to the patrollers to slow down so that he could intervene.

“He fired one shot at the back tyre of the suspects’ vehicle which brought it to an immediate stand still.

“Mabotja took charge of the crime scene, got the suspects to surrender, exit their vehicle and lay face-down on the road.

“The CPF patrollers assisted Mabotja and closed the high-way to ensure no interference with the crime scene. The Benoni CPF community patrollers, the Benoni SAPS and paramedics also arrived on the scene.

“All stolen goods to the value of a R100 000 were recovered and the suspects were arrested.

“The suspects, who are from Mamelodi in Pretoria are said to be part of a much bigger syndicate. It is alleged that they are wanted from as far as Cape Town in connection with house break-ins and other crimes.”

“We want all criminals in their area to read and understand our slogan, which is visible on all the CPF boards in the area. It reads that we have a zero tolerance for crime,” says Curry.

Lt Juanita Coetzer confirmed the arrest and said the men were charged with housebreaking and possession of stolen goods.

As courts only resumed in January, the three suspects spent their festive season behind bars.