A Frightened varsity student hid in a bedroom cupboard while a housebreaker ransacked her Bluff home on Tuesday, 30 September.
While alone at home in Bluff Road, the student saw a man breaking through the lounge window and she ran to hide with her mobile phone in a bedroom cupboard. While the man searched the house for valuables she called the police emergency hotline.
Warrant Officers Dalton, Hammond, Greef and Manning and police dog, ‘Rocky’ from the Durban Metro canine unit quickly responded to the call, where they found the window smashed in. Looking through the window, W/O Dalton saw the man pulling a stereo system from a wall unit.
As soon as the man saw the police officers he dropped the stereo and ran deeper into the house. The officers called for the man to surrender, but he did not respond. Not knowing whether there were any more thieves in the house or if they were armed, the officers sent ‘Rocky’ in through the window.
The police dog quickly found the man hiding in a bedroom, allowing his human partners to make the arrest. They searched the rest of the house and found a knife which was later confirmed as not belonging to anyone living in the house. The young girl was found, unharmed, hiding in the cupboard.
The knife will be sent for fingerprints and DNA analysis.
A 46-year-old man was arrested and charged with housebreaking and theft. He sustained bite wounds to his left forearm for which he received medical treatment at Wentworth Hospital.
He appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 2 October and was remanded back into custody for further investigation.
“The student is applauded for her bravery and making the 10111 emergency call. Metro K-9 unit members are thanked for their prompt response to the progress complaint and K9 – Rocky is congratulated on apprehending the suspect,” said Brighton Beach SAP communications officer Capt Louise Le Roux.
