On Friday, 1 November a silver Fiat Uno was stolen from a shopping mall within the Brighton Beach policing area and witnesses said a white VW Citi Golf with markings of a security company was involved.
The officer assigned to the case, Warrant Officer Pieter Fourie of Brighton Beach SAP Vispol unit noticed the Golf at another shopping centre while off duty on Sunday, 3 November. He immediately passed on the information to Sergeant Robert Jooste of the Brighton Beach SAP Detective Tracking and Tracing Unit.
Sgt Jooste began a search of the area with the assistance of Metro Police Dog Unit members Captain Greg Beavon and Constable Nic Wood. While checking roads exiting the area, he found the vehicle with three men in it and quickly cornered them. With help from the public, he was able to stop the men from fleeing on foot. Cpt Beavon and Cons Wood restrained the men and a search of them and their vehicle revealed car breaking implements.
Later that day Sgt Jooste and Cpt Beavon, along with Metro Dog Unit members Thomas Ntombela and ‘Fire’ Mfayela followed up on a tip that led them to a panel beater in Umlazi, where they recovered the stolen Uno, which had already been sprayed a different colour. This panel beater is being investigated by the Brighton Beach SAP Detective Services branch.
Investigations showed the chassis and engine number of the Golf had been altered and it was sent to the police pound for clearance and authentication of serial numbers and vehicle tags.
Brighton Beach SAP management commends W/O Fourie for his vigilance, Sgt Jooste for tracking the perpetrators and recovering the stolen vehicle and the Metro Police Dog Unit members for the various roles they played. The community members who assisted in the arrest of the men are also thanked.
The men were charged with being in possession of car breaking implements and appeared in Durban Court on Tuesday, 5 November, where they were remanded back into custody for further investigation.
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
