GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - There were a number of violent crimes in Graaff-Reinet last week, the most serious of which was one of attempted murder.
- A member of the SAPS was stopped by community members at Lower Location, Umasizakhe, on Saturday 16 February at 14:45. The officer was taken to where the victim, a 30-year-old male, was lying in a pool of blood, with a stab wound to the neck. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance.
A case was opened and a suspect arrested.
There were also five cases of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm, most of which involved knives.
- The first incident took place at a hiking spot on the Jansenville road, at about 08:40 on 13 February. The 44-year-old complainant was standing at the hiking spot when he was grabbed from behind by a knife-wielding suspect. The suspect just took the contents of the complainant's pockets, as well as a bag containing a laptop, and ran away. The suspect was later arrested and the items recovered. The case is under investigation.
- Also on 13 January, at about 07:15, a man who was on his way home was attacked by a suspect and robbed of his money (R200). This incident took place at Mandela Park, Kroonvale. No arrests have yet been made.
- At about 19:30 on 14 February, a teacher was at Kroonvale Primary School, working in his classroom. There was a knock on the door and the teacher requested the person or persons to come in. Two unknown males entered, both carrying knives, and demanded the teacher's money and other valuable items. The suspects ran off with the complainant's cell phone, which is valued at R17 000. No arrests have yet been made.
- In the next case, the complainant and a friend were on their way home at about 14:15 on 16 February when they were approached by two men. One of the men then pulled out a knife and held it to the complainant's throat while the other searched the complainant. Cash to the amount of R160 was taken before the suspects ran away. The incident occurred in Hope Street. The suspects have not yet been arrested.
- The final robbery took place on 19 February at about 11:05. The complainant was at work at the Collie Koeberg stadium when an unknown male ran at him with a sword in his hand. The suspect then demanded the complainant's cell phone (value R200) before running away. The case is still under investigation.
Fraud
There was one case of fraud opened. This took place between 16:30 on 5 February and 07:45 on 8 February. According to the complainant, she deposited money, R1 200, into the account of a protective workplace and gave her supervisor the confirmation letter. Later, when the complainant checked on the alleged workplace, no such account existed. The suspect is unknown at this stage, and the case is under investigation.
Property-related crimes
The remaining crimes are all related to property, and include three cases of theft.
- The first incident took place between 08:00 on 8 February and 08:30 on 13 February in Plasket Street. According to the complainant, her cell phone was stolen from where she had left it in the house. The value of cell phone is R5 000. According to the complainant in the second case, the suspect stole his laptop and notebook to the value of R5 700. This happened in Asherville on 11 February at about 20:00.
- On 14 February at about 12:00, an amount of R12 000 was withdrawn from the complainant's bank account at FNB in Church Street, without her knowledge. The suspect is not known to the complainant.
- A case of theft from a motor vehicle in Nieu-Bethesda was also opened during the week. The complainant left his trailer at his home in Martin Street on 16 February at about 16:00, and when he returned the next day at 08:00, he found the trailer standing on bricks. Both wheels had been stolen, worth R4 000
- There was also an attempted theft of a motor vehicle. According to the complainant, she parked her vehicle in the garage at Charlyn Court, Middle St, at 18:00 on 17 February and locked it. The next morning, at about 06:05, she found her vehicle, a Toyota Tazz, standing outside the garage, with the steering wheel removed. The damages amount to R8000.
- A business burglary took place on 17 February between 04:00 and 05:00 at Karoo Catch, in the industrial area. A security company was doing their patrols in the area when they noticed that the business had been broken into, when they saw that a door had been forced open. Various items to the value of R3 000 were stolen.
- The final case for the week is one of residential burglary. This happened on 17 February between 17:20 and 21:40 in Willie Deysel Street.
According to the complainant, the suspect gained entry through a back window of the house and took a fuel pump, spray and other items to the value of R4 070. One arrest was made.
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