Beware of the bricks

Criminals may now be throwing bricks at vehicles to stop drivers before a robbery ensues.

Justin Worthington (18) was recently driving on Malibongwe Drive when, after turning into Elise Road in Ruiterhof, a brick was thrown at his windscreen, shattering it.

“I saw a slight movement to my right and a brick hit my windscreen,” Worthington explained.

“I lost control and hit two trees on the side of the road.”

Although stopped, the perpetrator(s) did not approach Worthington as he stepped out of the vehicle, evaluated the damage and drove away.

“I did not see who did it. My brother and I found the brick there the next day and we spoke to a woman [next to the road] who said men stand on the corner during the night and probably do this.”

A case was opened with the Linden police, but it has since been closed.

“There was no description of the perpetrator,” said Linden police spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mulamu.

“There was nothing for the police to go on so we had to drop the case.”

She would not comment on why a brick would be thrown at a windscreen, nor how often this has occurred.

Ward 102 councillor David Potter said the police would know more about such incidents than he would.

Nevertheless, he speculated, “a brick being thrown could be to distract the motorist for a possible crime to take place.”

This is the only recent incident of a brick being thrown at a windscreen reported to the Randburg Sun, and may or may not highlight an old or new crime trend.

Details: Linden police 011 888 9212, Ward 102 Councillor David Potter 082 885 9688, david@oursuburb.co.za