POLICE caution people about making fabricated reports after a 39-year-old Bluff business owner was arrested for falsely claiming he was robbed of cash and goods valued at over R100,000.
On the morning of Friday, 6 May, Brighton Beach SAPS vispol members, Constables TS and JT Shabalala attended the scene of an alleged robbery at a business on Lighthouse Road.
The owner told the officers he was held up at gunpoint and robbed by three men. He alleged R50,000 was taken from the cash register and gambling machines and R40,000 was taken from his person, along with his jewellery valued at R30,000 and a PVR recorder.
Interviews with people in the vicinity revealed that no-one else was seen entering or exiting the business, other than the owner.
According to media officer, Captain Louise Le Roux, while police processed and searched the alleged crime scene for evidence, Warrant Officer Marius Van Der Looy and Captain Sarel Kruger found a bank bag containing cash and coins stashed underneath a fridge and the allegedly stolen PVR recorder and jewellery.
The man admitted to making a false complaint of business robbery and was arrested for defeating the ends of justice.
Brighton Beach SAPS station commissioner, Colonel Carel Grobler praised all those involved for applying the appropriate crime scene management skills and interviewing techniques that enabled them to confirm their suspicions of a false case of business robbery.
“We are hopeful this incident will make any individual think twice before opening a false case of any sort within the Brighton Beach policing precinct. Those with criminal intentions should not underestimate the skills and competency levels of our police officials,” read a statement issued by the station.
