Durban North housebreaker ran, but couldn’t hide

AFTER two years of evading the law, a Durban North housebreaker is finally behind bars.

Thabiso Disane (38) was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment at the Durban Magistrate’s Court recently, following an arrest by Marshall Security in March.

The Northglen News recently caught up with one of the investigating officers, Detective Constable Nhlakanipho Ngcobo who shed some light on the arrest and subsequent successful conviction. 

According to Ngcobo, Disane pleaded guilty to four counts of housebreaking, three of which occurred in Champion Place, Norrie Crescent and James Place in Durban North.

Security officers found him in possession of a laptop, iPad, jewellery and other items. 

Some of the items were positively identified by homeowners from Champion Place and James Place, said Ngcobo. 

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The first case was a pending housebreaking case which Disane failed to appear in court for, he added. 

Disane case was handed over to Durban North SAPS and the case was assigned to Detective Ngcobo and Detective Sergeant Sipho Shezi.

Both detectives left no stone unturned in ensuring thorough investigations were completed to ensure that Disane was sentenced.

“We are both pleased with the outcome of the trial,” said Ngcobo.

Marshall Security’s Tyron Powell said he was also satisfied with the outcome of the case.

“Well done to all involved as well as Detective Constable Nhlakanipho Ngcobo from Durban North detectives and the prosecutor on the successful prosecution,” said Powell.

Ngcobo said Disane is well known to Durban North Police Station.

In 2019, he escaped from their custody while being booked for housebreaking, but was bitten by a police dog and hospitalised at an uMhlanga hospital under police supervision, he explained. 

While at hospital, he asked the police officer on guard if he could use the toilet.

When he got into the cubicle, Disane removed his shoes and pants, and placed both items strategically to appear as if he was still sitting on the toilet, said Ngcobo . 

The police officer kept checking under the cubicle and because his shoes and pants were visible, the officer didn’t think anything was amiss.

Some time past and the officer became suspicious so he used an item to move the shoes and pants and found that Disane was not in the cubicle, he said. 

He escaped through a small window but was caught by hospital security and was subsequently rearrested.

When he appeared in court, he made bail and never returned. He left the area, said Ngcobo.