Citizens arrest alleged house break-in culprits in Endicott

Last Friday, citizens in Endicott successfully made a citizen’s arrest of a man suspected of housebreaking.

Annette de Nysschen was at work when she received a call from her private security company stating that her alarm went off due to a power failure.

An hour later, de Nysschen received another call from her neighbour saying it appeared as though there were three suspects trying to break in.

Also read: Suspects arrested after hijacking woman and robbing a man

The first responders to the scene were members of the community and the private security company with the police arriving later.

The house was cordoned off by members of the community and private security in an attempt to make sure all the suspects were captured.

However, on inspection of the house by André Wiid, a friend of de Nysschen, revealed that it was empty.

The suspects gained entry into the yard by cutting a hole into the bottom of the garden fence.

Two of the suspects had managed to get away.

The police arrested the suspect who had already been placed in handcuffs provided by the private security company.

This was after the police went into the house and found evidence of forced entry into the house as well as items missing from the house.

The suspect still had some of the items missing from the house on his person as well as housebreaking tools.

The citizen’s arrest happened without any injuries to the two men who overpowered the suspect despite the suspect pulling out his knife when he realised he was cornered.

The man was then taken into police custody where he was interrogated and confessed to the crime.

He was then charged with possession of stolen goods and housebreaking.

“I’m just so grateful to my neighbours and the community.

“The atmosphere was great and the people were so proud of what they had done.

“The community just got together and looked after each other, regardless of race or creed,” says de Nysschen.

Springs police spokesperson Captain Ramphora says the suspect appeared in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on February 19.

The bail application hearing was postponed, pending further investigation.

The suspect remains in police custody.