At about 3.30am, the trio who are part of the crime prevention unit were approached by a man while they were patrolling on Bluff Road. The man said he knew a business housebreaking had just occurred along South Coast Road.
Although the business was in the Montclair policing area and had not been circulated over the radio yet, the police officers decided to look into it. When they arrived at the address the man had given them, with their vehicle lights off, they noticed seven men entering the building. Observing from a hidden point, the officers watched as the men left the building carrying what they believed to be stolen items.
The officers quickly moved in on the men, and arrested six of them, with one fleeing the scene. The owner of the business was contacted and he confirmed the items valued at over R15,000 and ranging from energy drinks, body lotions, soaps, cake flour, cheese, a microwave and cash, were part his stock.
The items were handed back to the owner. But this wasn’t this first raid on the business that morning and the items stolen earlier in the morning have not yet been traced.
The six men age from 21 to 36 were arrested and charged for business housebreaking. They appeared in Durban Court on 21 August and were remanded in police custody, before appearing in Wentworth Court on 29 August. They again have been remanded back into police custody. Their next court appearance will be 30 September, where a formal bail application is anticipated. The search for the seventh man continues.
According to Brighton Beach SAP communications officer, Capt Louise Le Roux, “Displacement of crime occurs when perpetrators ‘hop’ from one policing area to another to commit crimes. Our rookies through their intervention prevented these six perpetrators from entering the Brighton Beach police area, and committing more business crimes.”
Brighton Beach SAP commends student Constables Mweli, Nobetsiki and Msomi for the support shown to neighbouring station, Montclair SAP and their prompt reaction that led to the arrest of the six thieves and recovery of stolen items.
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
