Amanzimtoti dog thief’s crime spree continues after police case not opened

THE importance of opening a police case was highlighted after the owners of a stolen Boerboel puppy, which was later returned to them safely, didn’t follow up by opening a police case and the same criminal was nabbed for mugging a couple days later.

After the mugging the criminal’s luck ran out, he was detained and eventually had a case opened against him.

While cleaning the river near Amanzimtoti Sports Club’s squash club on Sunday, 23 September, Barry Walker spotted a dog thief on the bridge that they had been chasing with CCPO officials on Friday night, 21 September.

CCTV footage showed the man stealing a boerboel puppy from an Amanzimtoti home on the Friday night.

Barry was joined by Shaun Callaghan, Grant Thompson and Deon Botha as they set after the thief in a car.

“When we caught him, I told him it was my puppy he had stolen and I wanted it back,” said Shaun. “He took us into the depths of Felekisi township where we finally arrived at a house. Five men were there, one of whom was smartly dressed while the others looked dodgy. The criminal we had taken there explained to the men that I wanted my dog back.”

Shaun said the men produced a small cage containing the dog. He pretended the dog was his and put it in the car immediately. The men demanded money and Shaun explained they’d have to deal with the man who stole the dog.

During the whole return trip, the dog thief kept asking for his money and when they were going to pull over to draw it. The CCPO was called and waiting at the club by the time they returned. They arrested the man who was still asking Shaun for his money.

“Through social media, the owner of the puppy Duke was alerted and arrived. The owners have CCTV footage of the criminal cutting through the fence and stealing the puppy. The thief even admitted to stealing the dog. While the owners said they would open a case immediately, through social media I heard they never actually did. The same criminal was caught a few days later, after committing another crime,” said CCPO’s George Snodey.

George explained that on Tuesday, 25 September, the CCPO arrested a man who was one of two who had robbed a couple at knifepoint near Toti railway station.

“The suspects duped their victims into believing they were taking them to meet the owner of a car wash, who was looking for staff to employ. Near the railway line, they robbed the victims of their phones and cash at knifepoint.

CCPO response officer Michael Mkhize eventually arrested one of the men and recovered a phone which was sold to a taxi rank manager. Once Michael had detained the suspect, he realised it was the criminal who had stolen the dog over the weekend. The victim opened a case and the thug was arrested and detained,” he said.

Both the CCPO and those involved in the return of the stolen puppy urge the community to open police cases when crimes are committed.

Opting not to open a police case means the criminals, if caught, will be set free to continue their life of crime. As in this case, the crimes they go on to commit generally become more serious as they continue unaffected by the justice system.

Callaghan urged the community to not take advantage of the CCPO, but rather become a paying member and encourage family, friends and neighbours to do so too.