A small crime wave hit the streets of Joburg’s northern suburbs in the past few days.
The crimes ranged from petty theft to full-blown armed robberies and theft of motor vehicles.
According to Apcan Security Group client liaison manager Louis Grobler, the following occurred recently:
• An armed robbery occurred in Windsor East on the corner of Countesses Avenue and Beatrice Street. A victim was talking on her cell phone when she was accosted by a man with a firearm who pushed her to the ground, took her cell phone and fled.
• Another incident took place inside a popular shopping centre’s parking lot where a victim met a seller of a vehicle. The victim was forced at gunpoint to deposit money into a bank account.
• Fontainebleau saw a theft out of motor vehicle at another shopping centre. The door lock was damaged and a black bag containing clothing, spare keys and ID Book was stolen.
• In another incident in Fontainebleau, a victim on his white Honda pizza delivery motorcycle was confronted by four men who pulled him off his motorcycle. They stole a helmet, cell phone, cash and a speedpoint machine. He was also assaulted. Two suspects drove away on the motorcycle and the two others fled in a black Mini Cooper with white colours on the side.
Linden Police’s spokesperson Captain Walter Spencer said, “These crimes happened over a longer period of time and not just in one day. They also happened across various police stations.”
He added he is sure that some of these crimes may not have been reported to the police such as attempted theft out of motor vehicles and the such.
Captain Spencer urged the community to be careful of what they read on social media and encouraged residents to report any and all crimes to their nearest police station.
Other incidents included:
BLACKHEATH: Armed Robbery with firearm on Beyers Naudé Drive. The victim was inside a taxi when he was robbed at gunpoint by two men. The suspects took his laptop, cell phone, gold necklace chain, and jacket and forced him to withdraw cash at an ATM.
LINDEN: Business burglary on 5th Street. Suspects gained entry through the roof and stole a laptop, cell phone and money box.
PRAEGVILLE: Two thefts out of motor vehicles.
ROOSEVELT PARK: Carjacking on the corner of Beyers Naudé Drive and Preller Street. The victim was in his vehicle at the red traffic light, when an unknown suspect smashed the side window and hit him with an unknown object in the face. Suspects pulled him out of his vehicle, took his wallet and drove off in his white Suzuki hatchback.
It was initially reported that according to a post on the eblockwatch Facebook page, that all the incidents occurred on 3 May. Since then, Grobler has confirmed that the incidents happened over a period of a few days.
