Sundowner resident Sheila Charles (67) was “brutally beaten” by two men because she would not give them her handbag.
Charles was walking along the pavement on Olievenhout Avenue, near Northgate Shopping Centre, at about 6.40am on 15 September, when the men tried to grab her handbag. When she held on to the bag they gave her a “hiding”, she said.
Recounting the ordeal in between sobs, Charles described how the men “greeted me so nicely” before hitting her until she had fallen to the ground. Then they kept kicking her. When they had enough they left. She kept her bag, but sustained considerable injuries. Charles has not visited a hospital yet but her family believes that her ribs are cracked, and she has injuries on her head, knee and arm.
Honeydew police spokesperson Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs said that a case of assault grievous bodily harm was opened and “there is currently an increase in street robberies” along Olievenhout Avenue and Drysdale Road in Northgate and Sundowner. “Pedestrians are mostly targeted when going to work or returning from work,” she said.
She explained that the following crime prevention operations are being conducted:
- Honeydew police have handed out pamphlets warning pedestrians in the area of street robberies.
- The mounted unit, flying squad and K9 unit are being deployed randomly in these streets for high visibility.
- Regular drug operations are being conducted as this is a hotspot for drug dealings.
- The sector manager (Warrant Officer Gabriel Nonyane) is in contact with the Sundowner community representatives, and a patrolling group was established with a whatsApp group warning residents about muggings.
Jacobs added that not all muggings are being reported to the Honeydew police and some victims cannot assist with ID kits or identifying of the suspects.
Details: Honeydew police 011 801 8613.
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