Homeowner confronts would-be bakkie thieves in Steiltes

Steiltes residents were awakened by six gunshots fired in rapid succession this morning when a suspect was shot and killed.

According to a source close to the investigation, the incident occurred at about 04:00.

“The homeowner was asleep in his sitting room when he was startled by the sound of people in his house. According to him, between four and five suspects were in the house after trying to steal his bakkie,” the source said.

After apparently having failed to open the bakkie, the suspects proceeded inside to remove his wallet and find the vehicle keys.

ALSO READ: Mbombela police warn of a spike in laptop thefts and robberies

“He confronted them. A shoot-out ensued and one of the suspects, who had gotten into the bakkie in the driveway at the time, was wounded,” the source continued.

The homeowner’s wallet was recovered from the injured suspect, who was taken to Rob Ferreira Hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his wounds.

Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit, Bossies Community Justice and the Mbombela police responded to the call-out and rushed to the scene. The other suspects had fled.

No arrests have been made and a case of house robbery and car theft was lodged with the Nelspruit Police Station.

ALSO READ: SAPS asks public to comply with Covid regulations as station closures spike

The gunshots had woken a number of neighbours who did not want to be named.

“At about 03:57 this morning, I heard about five consecutive gunshots going off. I immediately reached for my phone to contact the security company and went to check on my children who had also been startled by the noise,” a neighbour said.

“I looked across the road and saw the lights were on. At about 04:06, I heard a car drive off followed by dead silence. I gathered my children and lay awake with them until they fell asleep.”

*This is a developing story. Lowvelder will post updates as more information becomes available.