KAROO NEWS - There were 23 cases opened in Graaff-Reinet last week, almost all property-related and including theft, shoplifting, and pickpocketing.

Despite recent warnings from the police, there were four cases of theft out of a motor vehicle, and one of theft from a vehicle.

• In the first case, the complainant parked her vehicle opposite Tikki’s Liquor Store, leaving the vehicle unlocked to open a gate. When she got back to the vehicle, she found that her cell phone and her handbag were missing. The incident happened on 21 November, at 18:20. The total value of items stolen amounts to R8 000.
• On the same day, a driver parked his vehicle in front of Quest garage in Church Street at 21:30.

At about 04:00 the next morning, he found that the netting and sail of the truck were open, and three boxes of power and lightning protection units, two SBGs, a LDG landline telephone and micro computer equipment were missing from the truck. The value of the stolen items amount to R20 000.

• The third incident happened in Caroline Street, where the complainant parked her vehicle in her backyard, but did not lock it. She also left the key in the ignition. The following morning when she went to the vehicle, she noticed that the keys, an air compressor and jump starter leads, with a combined value of R7 000 were missing. This took place between 22:00 on 22 November and 07:30 the next day.
• The next incident took place at 00:00 on 24/11 at Church St. The complainant alleges that he parked his vehicle in front of Gem garage and went inside the shop. When he came back, he found his cell phone and GPS missing from the vehicle. The value of items is R17 000.
• A vehicle that had been left for 12 days in a garage had the tyres and wheel rims removed sometime between 14 November and 26 November. When he went back on the second date, he noticed that the garage door was slightly ajar and when he looked inside, he found both front tyres had been removed from the car, as well as the rims. The value is about R3 500.

There were three cases of robbery, including one involving a firearm.

• This incident took place at 23:00 on 19 November in Hope Street. According to the complainant, the suspects came looking for something to smoke and when they did not get any, they took out a firearm and threatened the complainant with it. They took his tablet to the value of R2 000. The suspects are known to the complainant, but have not yet been arrested.
• In another robbery, a man was sitting outside a church in AME Street at 22:00 on 20 November, drinking with friends. Two men, known to the complainant, approached the group and then threatened the complainant with a knife, before taking R700 cash from him. Two suspects were arrested.
• On 26 November, at 13:30, a woman was assaulted with a stone by a relative who then forcefully took cigarettes from her. The incident happened in Umasizakhe. The case is under investigation, and no arrests have yet been made.

There were five business burglaries, and two residential burglaries.

• The first Incident took place between 16:00 on 19 November and 06:30 the next day at Lingcom Primary School in Kroonvale. According to the complainant, the security gate of a classroom was forced open, and the gate and a desk were stolen. The total value is R1 800. A suspect has been arrested.
• Another incident took place at the Moria Church in Bree Street between 20 November and 22 November. According to the complainant, he went to the church to attend to his daily duties and upon arrival, he found the side door of the church has been forced open to gain entry. He phoned the pastor of the church and together they discovered that tools, a wheelbarrow, a spade and an electrical cord were missing from the premises. The value of the items amounts to R2000.
• Another business burglary took place in Martin Street, Nieu Bethesda, between 23:00 on 24 November and 08:00 the next day. According to the complainant, the suspect or suspects gained entry to the premises by forcing open the sliding door. Meat, brandy, beer and cider to the value of R4 100 were stolen.
• During the period between 13:00 on 25 November and 08:55 the next day, a window was broken at a business in North Street, and a television to the value of R10 0000 was taken.
• The first residential burglary took place in Reinet Park at 15:00 on 25 November. According to the complainant, the suspect gained entry through the back door and took money to the value of R3 500 before fleeing the scene.
• The other residential burglary took place in 7^th Avenue, Umasizakhe between 19:00 on 23 November and 08:00 on 26 November. According to the complainant, the key to the premises was used to open the door. Shoes, bags and groceries to the value of R2600 were stolen. It is not certain how the suspect or suspects came to be in possession of the key. The case is under investigation.
• A worker at a guest house in Parsonage Street informed the complainant that a 20 litre paint tin, a 5 litre paint tin, and 5kg of pool cleaner were stolen, all to the value of R1 400. The incident took place between 10:00 on 17 November and 10:00 on 19 November. The suspect is unknown, but can be identified by a witness. The case is still under investigation.

There were two cases of shoplifting reported in this period, one at Jet Stores, and one at an unnamed clothing store.

• In the first case, which happened just after 14:00 on 21 November at an unspecified store, the suspect put on clothing (worth R720) at a clothing shop and then left without paying. The security guard then arrested the suspect.
• On 22 November at 11:32 at Jet Stores, when a shopper left the store, the complainant noticed that the suspect’s bag was bigger than when she entered the store. The complainant took the bag from the suspect and found pyjamas and a pair of sports shoes (worth R240) in the bag for which the complainant did not pay. The suspect has been arrested.

One man was arrested in Lower Location for being in possession of suspected stolen property.

• SAPS members were patrolling in Lower Location at 02:40 on 23 November when they came upon the suspect, carrying a jigsaw. When they asked him about the saw, the suspect could not give reasons for being in possession of the item at that time of the morning. He was then arrested.
• Also in New Location, a case of reckless or negligent driving was opened after the driver of a Toyota Tazz lost control of his vehicle and drove into the complainant’s wall. The incident happened at about 20:00 on 24 November, and the damage caused is estimated at R2 000. The case is under investigation.
• A case of malicious damage to property was opened after an incident on 17 November. According to the complainant, the suspect entered the shop in Church Street at 16:00 and hit a table with a panga before running away. The damage is estimated at R2 000.

A foreign tourist fell victim to a pickpocket in Caledon Street on 26 November, at about 17:30.

The man, from Holland, was visiting in the town, and decided to take a walk. He was standing in front of a shop in Caledon Street when an unknown man approached him. To the complainant, it looked as if though the suspect wanted to ask him something, but instead he grabbed the complainant’s iPhone out of his pocket and ran away. The value of the phone is R10 000.

The final two Graaff-Reinet cases are of stock theft.

• Fifty merino ewes were reportedly removed from the complainant’s camp on 23 November at 20:50 and chased towards town. The value of the merino ewes amounts to R175 000. The suspect or suspects are unknown at this stage.
• The last incident took place between 07:00 on 22 November and the same time on 26 November at Watervlei Farm. According to the complainant, the sheep were counted on 22 November and there was a full total, but when they again counted the sheep four days later, they discovered that four were missing. The value of the missing sheep is R6 000.

Willowmore
There were two cases of theft from a motor vehicle opened in Willowmore.

The first incident took place on 20 November between 20:30 and 21:30 in Victoria Street. According to the complainant, his father parked the small truck outside their yard and everything was in order. When the complainant came back to the vehicle a little later to start it, he was unable to do so. He found that the battery of the vehicle, worth R1 300, had been stolen.

On 24 November at about 04:00, the complainant was sleeping in his vehicle in Morningside. When he woke up he found that his cell phone, valued at R2 300, was missing. Suspect or suspects are known, but have not yet been arrested, as the case is still under investigation.

There has been an increase in burglaries, with three businesses and one residential property affected.

The first incident took place in Mandela Square. According to the complainant, she closed the shop at 20:00 on 21 November and went home. At 04:15 the next day, she was woken up by the police who informed her that the shop had been broken into. She found that the till had been stolen. The value of the till is R1 600, and money in the till amounted to R300. There are no known suspects at this stage.

The second business burglary occurred between 21:30 on 24 November and 05:00 the next day, in Hillview. 

According to the complainant, he left the business premises and everything was in order, but when he returned the next morning and opened the shop, he found groceries, tobacco, cold drinks, airtime and cash missing. The total value of the stolen items is R3520. Two suspects have been arrested.

The third incident took place on 26 November between 00:00 and 07:45 in Knysna Street. According to the complainant, when she reported for duty, she found her office door had been broken to gain entrance to the office. Money and liquor were stolen, of unknown value at this stage.

A residential burglary took place from a house in Stegman Lane sometime between 09:00 on 21 November and 06:00 the next day.

When the complainant left his home, everything was in order, but upon his return the next day, he found his garage door open and drills and a fish container missing. The value of the stolen items amounts to R15 600.

On 22 November at 17:10, the complainant came to the SAPS’ Community Service Centre with an alleged suspect who was in possession of the complainant’s long sleeved top. The complainant gave a detailed description of marks on the top and it was found to be true. The alleged suspect then said he had bought the top for R5.00. The complainant said that his residence had been broken into and some of his property had been stolen. The suspect, a juvenile, was arrested for being in possession of presumed stolen property.

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