A HOUSEBREAKER who had a second run in with the CCPO in six months, was arrested in Warner Beach on Tuesday afternoon, 10 June, minutes after he had burgled a flat.
A few months ago, the same man had been terrorising flat owners at St Anton, Shangri La, Coral Cove and others. When a recent spate of housebreakings affected flats at Ridgegate, Chain Cove and Miland Court, the CCPO and volunteers believed the same thief could be involved, as the modus operandi was similar.
On Tuesday, at about 5pm, he was spotted in Warner Beach by George Snodey who held him under surveillance, until Leon Joone and other CCPO staff arrived.
Snodey watched the man break the padlock of a pedestrian gate at Sunrise flats and enter the premises. After Joone’s arrival, he emerged from the flats about 20 minutes later carrying a black rubbish bag.
When the CCPO closed in on him, he attempted to flee after dropping the bag. After a short scuffle, he was overpowered. A wall safe was found in the black bag. Police were notified and he was taken to Toti SAPS.
Jewellery was also found in the man’s pockets. At the police station, it was found that a flat in Panorama Court in Warner Beach had been burgled and that there had been attempted break-ins at two more flats.
While the burglary complainant of Panorama Court was being shown the jewellery, a resident of Coastline House who was opening a housebreaking case realised it was her jewellery.
It was established that when he had been arrested previously, he had pleaded guilty to five counts of housebreaking and had received a suspended sentence.
A second, unrelated housebreaking incident took place on Wednesday, 11 June at about 5am in Harcombe Road.
After CCPO were notified of the incident, Rupert Smit posted patrol guards in the area. Two men were seen attempting to leave the area. The guards gave chase and after dropping a bag they were carrying, they fled. Two laptops were found in the bag, which were taken during the housebreaking.
Joone urged residents to join the CCPO. “In the last few months, we have arrested dozens of suspects. Whether you live in a block of flats or gated complex, everyone has been affected. Our job is to patrol the streets and keep criminals away. We are succeeding to a degree with limited resources, but we could be a lot more effective, if our whole town got behind us.”
Call 031-903-7037 to sign up.
Hi if there is eny JAGUAR keys it’s mine they have help theme self to my things to
So after all the hard work CCPO and SAPS put in, the criminal pleads guilty and gets a suspended sentence. REALLY ????
Our justice system lets us down. That is ridiculous.