Robbed Amanzimtoti jogger fumes
I told them I don’t care about my phone and that I’ve got the suspect but they weren’t interested.
A woman who was mugged and had her cellphone stolen at knifepoint while out jogging on Umdoni Road on Monday morning, 18 February was left fuming after the police refused to open a case. Cornelia Ballack (36) was attacked by two men, both armed with knives, at about 6.15am. A man who assisted her called the Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO), who fruitlessly searched for the suspects.
“When I went to open a case, the policeman told me I could only make an affidavit (and not open a case) as I did not have my phone’s IMEI (serial number) number. I only have the IMEI number,” she said. When she phoned her number, the phone was still active, so the next day she blocked her SIM card.
“On Tuesday evening I recognised one of my attackers who was acting as a car guard at Toti Mall.” Cornelia confronted the man, who threatened to kill her if she went to the police. Undeterred, she returned to the station. “I told them I had seen one of the men who had attacked me but they still wouldn’t open a case and refused to go arrest him because a case had not been opened. I told them I don’t care about my phone and that I’ve got the suspect but they weren’t interested.”
READ ALSO: What to do if the police refuse to open a case
Cornelia called the CCPO who responded, but by then the suspect had vanished. They told her to return to the station and insist the police open a case because they could not search and for the suspect without a CAS number. Only after a lengthy screaming match with the police, Cornelia finally receive a CAS number at about 11pm on Tuesday night.
Amanzimtoti SAPS communications officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy said: “When a cellphone is stolen, the following is needed for a case to be opened and registered for further investigation:
* The IMEI number for the specific cellphone (serial number).
* ITC reference number which is to be obtained from the service provider.
This will assist in circulating the property as stolen, which will further assist in identifying a stolen cellphone when recovered.”
READ ALSO: Call CCPO direct when crisis strikes
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