POLICE have tracked down the ‘bag snatcher’ biker who grabbed a Richards Bay property sales agent’s laptop bag on Monday morning while she was walking to her office on Lira Link.
The victim sustained minor injuries as she was dragged along the road until she managed to free herself from the bag’s strap.
Following numerous tip-offs from community members about the biker’s identity and whereabouts, the Richards Bay SAPS swooped on the suspect’s residence in Arboretum on Tuesday afternoon and arrested him on common robbery charges.
Justin Deroukakis (40) appeared in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Wednesday) and was refused bail.
He returns to court today for assistance by a legal aid attorney.
The victim has still not retrieved her laptop.
According to messages circulating on WhatsApp, three similar incidents occurred in Arboretum, the Central Business District and Meerensee, but no cases were opened at the Richards Bay SAPS.
‘The public needs to understand that if a biker or scooter rider snatches a bag, it must be reported to the police,’ said Richards Bay SAPS spokesperson Captain Debbie Ferreira.
‘If they don’t, we won’t know to investigate and crack down on these criminals.’
WhatsApp whirlwind
In the flood of WhatsApps sent on crime and community forums, some allegations have been made linking businesses and individuals to the suspect.
‘We were falsely accused by people that the biker was at our shop and the backlash has been horrific,’ said RB Pawnbrokers Manager Wesley Kruis.
‘People have barged in, demanding to get the laptop back, yet we have never seen the man or his bike.
‘It turned out the person who reported it actually said the suspect was seen four parking lots from our shop. This needs to be set straight.’
