Constable Johannes Aphane was in the area following up on information about other cases, when he spotted a man trying to sell an iPod to another man at the taxi rank.
“I approached him and asked him where he got the iPod. He told me it was his, and that I could buy it if I wanted it,” said Aphane.
When the constable told the suspect he was a police officer, the suspect fled the scene.
Aphane, in plain clothes, pulled off his sandals and gave chase.
He caught up with the suspect at the corner of Bree and Simmonds streets and grabbed hold of him. In doing so, Aphane sustained a minor injury to his thumb when something sharp on the suspect gouged out a piece of flesh.
The suspect threw away the iPod during the chase.
“I took the suspect to the Johannesburg Central Police Station, and from there to Parkview Police Station. From Parkview, he will be transferred back to Johannesburg Central,” said Aphane.
The suspect will appear in court soon.
Parkview Police Station commander, Colonel Nanda Moodley said there is a huge market for stolen cellphones, iPods and iPads in central Johannesburg, and that a large number of these items appear to have been stolen in smash-and-grabs.
“With smash-and-grabs, criminals don’t care whether it’s a designer handbag or not. They take cash, cellphones, sunglasses, and things like iPods,” he said.
Moodley said criminals were aware that some cellphones could be tracked, so they have them removed by professionals.
“These stolen goods aren’t usually sold through shops, but on the side of the road, as in this case with the iPod,” said Moodley.
He entreated people to use common sense with regard to valuable items.
“Keep your valuables out of sight, especially when you’re driving. Don’t keep your handbag or cellphone on the seat between your legs. Women are most often smash-and-grab targets. Be wary of people on the side of the road, including rubbish collectors at intersections and street vendors,” he warned.
