The quick response of SAPS Crime Intelligence, JMPD Crime Prevention and Dowry Security have led to the arrest of two members of a gang.
On 12 September five men entered a property in Kiaat Street by lifting the electric gate of its rail. They surprised the domestic worker who was busy in the back of the property. They held a gun to her neck and forced her to open the house.
The domestic worker secretly pressed a panic button that she had on her person. The five men took jewellery, a large flat screen television and a tablet. While they were trying to take another television the homeowner phoned the domestic worker on her cellphone, which startled the men and they fled.
The security company was on the scene within minutes. After security officer Bruce Webster gathered all the intelligence, which included a cellphone one of the suspects dropped and an eyewitness account of the suspects’ vehicle registration, he informed the police and metro police’s specialised units.
JMPD’s Crime Prevention unit managed to determine the whereabouts of the owner of the phone that was dropped and also traced the registration. Along with SAPS Crime Intelligence and Webster they found the suspect in Meadowlands, Soweto. The suspect was found in possession of the stolen tablet and admitted to the crime.
With the information they obtained from the suspect they arrested a second suspect on 19 September.
“There are a few lessons to be learned from this incident,” says Webster. “To prevent the gate being lifted from the rails, bullet hinges can be installed. A second point to note is that homeowners are advised to make sure that the domestic worker has a panic button with her at all times, such as in this case. And finally the neighbour who gave us the registration of the vehicle helped a lot. Neighbours should be vigilant at all times and note anything suspicious that goes on in their area,” says Webster.
