An alleged stolen items buyer ‘kingpin’ got knocked off of his throne by Witbank Police and the South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW).
On September 18, the alleged big buyer of stolen goods who is believed to be behind most of the trading in stolen goods in eMalahleni over the past two years was apprehended after years of trying to arrest the Congolese national, affectionately known by his workers as ‘John’.
The spender has finally been brought to justice after one of his many ‘clients’ were interviewed by the police after being arrested by the Del Judor Proper neighborhood watch group for breaking into a house on September 17.
He started giving all of the relevant information to the police to track down ‘John’, as well as where the stolen items were hidden.
The investigation team started following up on the leads provided.
On arrival at one of the addresses given, police found numerous stolen items in a house situated in Extension 8, along with the notorious ‘John.’
His modus operandi was to pay local addicts in exchange for stolen good.
They would then bring him the valuables stolen and he would pay them just enough to keep them addicted and on the roll.
“I have worked with a few addicts in the past few years trying to rehabilitate them and get them back to their families. More than five of these addicts have opened up during treatment telling me about how they all work for ‘John’ and how it’s hard to do anything else as he even allegedly bails them out when they do get arrested to ensure they keep working for him,” said Maureen Scheepers, Operations Co-ordinator of the South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) Witbank.
It is alleged that ‘John’ is currently out on bail on another unrelated case, and has managed to slither around numerous other charges that were never enrolled by Witbank Magistrates’ Court.
“Everyone on the streets knows ‘John’, if you are into crime and drugs you will know ‘John.’ We thought he was untouchable because the police could never catch him,” said *Thomas an addicted ‘employee’ of ‘John’.
Housebreaking statistics have continued to rise over the years.
Taking down the buyer of stolen goods could just be the start in cracking down on these numbers.
The Station Commander of Witbank Brigadier Lindile Ndlovu expressed his gratitude to members of SACCW who helped to arrest a suspect who committed a housebreaking.
The police detectives interrogated the suspect who led them to a kingpin buyer of stolen goods in eMalahleni by the name of ‘John’.
Police members searched his house and several other stolen goods were found in his house.
Brigadier Ndlovu said, “It’s a huge breakthrough in the fight against housebreakings in our city, especially taking into consideration that ‘John’ is a well known buyer of stolen goods and is now behind bars.”
Witbank SAPS are the number one station in the country regarding housebreakings for the second consecutive year.
With the help of the community in not buying stolen goods and conducting visible patrols, with the police in all sectors, we can ensure that houses will be safe again.
*Name provided to protect the individual.
