Crime in the city of coal is on the rise, but what criminals don’t know is that this city’s response to crime is magnificent.
On the evening of Friday, June 21 South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) responder, Tommie Potgieter and Phillip du Plessis from Legacy Emergency Specialists spotted a man in distress trying to get the attention of a local armed response vehicle.
On approaching the man, he stated that he had just fallen victim of a robbery and had the details of the suspect vehicle.
The victim, Mr Mkhalipi, a truck driver, was overpowered by two males with a knife and robbed of his personal property as well as his truck keys. They had fled in a vehicle with their three accomplices.
Mr Mkhalipi entered the Legacy response vehicle when the suspect vehicle was spotted.
Potgieter requested backup from the SACCW Operations channel, and a short chase ensued from Klipfontein on OR Tambo Drive towards Duvha Park.
Witbank SAPS was dispatched and joined seconds after the suspects where apprehended at the “El Paso Tshisanyama” by SACCW responders Jean-Pierre Moore and Tommie Potgieter.
A total of five suspects where arrested and a case of common robbery was opened after the victim’s keys and property was found in possession of the suspects by police during a standard search on scene.
“Quick response and teamwork from all involved is what lead to the arrest of the five criminals. We would like to thank Legacy Emergency Specialists and a special thank you to Witbank SAPS Shift D for always going above and beyond with every call logged. The response time of the officers was amazing and the suspects were visibly surprised at the number of responders and officers that gave chase. United we are much stronger” Maureen Scheepers Operations Co-ordinator for SACCW concluded.
