FOLLOWING a fight with a Bluff family, who returned home unexpectedly, a housebreaker was tracked down by police dogs and arrested on Friday, 9 January.
As he used the toilet of a Marlborough Park home he had broken into, the man was startled by the return of the homeowner and her son. The child was bitten on the hand by the housebreaker during a struggle. As he attempted to flee, the mother attacked him and was able to wrench her son’s watch off his arm.
Brighton Beach SAPS operational support members, who received the call from the stricken family radioed out a description of the housebreaker to local law enforcement. Umlazi SAPS dog unit’s Constable Shaun Stanley and his patrol dog, ‘Seun’ and Metro dog unit’s Sergeant Shaun Jooste, his patrol dog ‘Guss’ and Warrant Officer Dean Nieuwoudt responded.
Following Guss, who had picked up the man’s scent, Sgt Jooste and W/O Nieuwoudt were able to box the man in, in a bushy area near the railway lines, with the assistance of Cst Stanley. They called out for the housebreaker to show himself, but he did not respond. As the pursuit continued through bushes, the officers called out again and again for the man, but no response was forthcoming.
Guss was let loose and quickly tracked down the man to allow the offices to arrest him. With minor dog bite wounds, he was taken to Wentworth Hospital and was swiftly discharged.
He was charged with housebreaking, theft and assault. He appeared in the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday, 13 January and was placed in police custody for further investigation.
Brighton Beach SAPS management commends the teamwork showed by the SAPS operational support members and Umlazi and Metro dog units.
