GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - An incident of residential burglary took place between 26 July (12:50) and 17 August (06:45) from a house in Thembalesizwe, Aberdeen.
According to the complainant, his girlfriend informed him that his residence was broken into and his DVD player and television stolen. The padlock on the door was broken. The complainant also discovered that his child's bicycle had been stolen. The value of stolen property amounts to R1 800. According to witnesses, the suspect is known, but no arrest has yet been made, and the case remains under investigation.
On 9 June at 09:00 theft was committed at the branch of ABSA Bank in Aberdeen.
The complainant went to the bank to draw a statement of her investment account and found that an amount of approximately R65 000 was missing from the account.
ATTEMPTED MURDER
A case of attempted murder has been opened in Graaff-Reinet after an incident on 15 August in Church Street.
The incident took place at 17:35 when the complainant said he had a quarrel with the suspect in question, regarding money the complainant owed the suspect. When the complainant told the suspect that he was unable to pay as he did not have the money at present, the suspect got into his vehicle and drove at the complainant and bumped him. Fortunately, the complainant did not sustain any injuries. The suspect is known but has not yet been arrested.
FIREARM CONFISCATED
In the early hours of the morning of 17 August information was circulated to the SAPS about a vehicle with suspicious occupants. SAPS members stopped the vehicle on the N9 and while searching the vehicle and its occupants they found an unlicensed firearm with ammunition in one of the suspect's bags. The suspect, 32-year-old Pakamisa Nkopo, was immediately arrested and has appeared in court. The firearm was confiscated and handed in as an exhibit.
BUSINESS BURGLARIES
There were two cases of business burglary in Graaff-Reinet.
The first occurred between 17:30 on 12 August and 07:30 the next morning, when someone broke into the workshop of a game farm in the district. Electrical equipment such as chainsaws, jigsaws, circular saws, drills, tool boxes, and belt sanders, with a combined value of R37 600 was taken. There are no suspects at this stage.
The second incident took place between 07:30 on 17 August and 08:20 on 20 August in Murray Street. The complainant left the storeroom and locked it with a padlock. When he came back on Monday, he found that the padlock had been cut and his toolbox was lying at the door. Screwdrivers and spanners to the value of R600 were missing.
THEFT
A case of theft was opened after a 6m x 3m piece of netting was cut off and taken from a property in Murray Street sometime between 14:00 on 10 August and 07:30 on 14 August. The value of the netting is R3 000.
Netting was also stolen from a property in Murray Street between 17:00 on 14 August and 05:00 the next morning. The complainant said that he went to check on his nursery on 14 August and everything was in order. When he went back the following day, he noticed that his net had been cut and stolen. The value, in this case, was also R3 000.
The third incident of theft took place on 14 August at 08:30 at 1 Caledon Street, Graaff-Reinet. According to the complainant, his employee stole thirty boxes of tobacco when he made deliveries to Somerset East and Pearston. The value of the stolen property amounts to R3900. The suspect has been arrested.
On 15 August at 03:00, a man was walking along Oval Drive on his way to work when five men robbed him by threatening him with a knife. They took two Nokia cell phones, as well as his bag with keys, with a total value of R800. The suspects are unknown at this stage. A case of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm has been opened.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
There were five cases of residential burglary reported in Graaff-Reinet during the last week.
The first incident took place between 14 August (21:00) and 15 August (05:45) at Fifth Avenue, Kroonvale. According to the complainant, her residence was broken into by breaking the back door. A television, cell phone, earphones and backpacks were stolen, as well as a jewellery box and a wallet. The estimated value of the stolen property is R3080. The suspect or suspects are unknown at this stage.
The second incident took place between 16 August (21:30) and 17 August (05:00) at 7th Avenue, Umasizakhe. According to the complainant, the suspect forced open the back door and stole a navy blue handbag containing several items, as well as cash. The estimated value is R750. Again, there are no known suspects at this stage, but the case is under investigation.
Another incident took place on 17 August at about 00:30 in Umasizakhe. The complainant said that her residence was locked up and everything in order when she went to work. When she came back, she found her back door open and discovered that her computer, DVD and some shoes were missing. The value of the stolen items amounts to R3180.
Also in Umasizakhe, a break-in took place on 18 August between 00:50 and 07:40. According to the complainant, the suspect gained entry by forcing open the front door. Groceries and meat were stolen, to the value of R764.
The final burglary happened on 20 August between 07:45 and 18:40 at a house in Sunflower Street. The complainant stated that the suspect gained entry through a window in the bedroom and took a Vodacom tablet worth R1800. The suspect, in this case, was seen by a witness. No arrests have yet been made, and the case is still under investigation.
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
A case of malicious damage to property was opened after a vehicle's windscreen was damaged on 14 August. The incident took place at Vrygronde, in Umasizakhe, at 10:45.
According to the complainant, the suspect wanted to assault him, but he (the complainant) managed to run away. The suspect picked up a stone and threw it at the complainant's vehicle, resulting in R2000 worth of damage to the windscreen. The suspect is known but has not yet been arrested.
In another incident in Umasizakhe, this time in Main Road, the side window of a vehicle was damaged on 19 August. At 09:20, the complainant was in his shop when the suspect came in, demanding a small amount of money. When the complainant asked the suspect to leave the shop he did, but once outside, he threw stones at the complainant's vehicle, causing R1 200 worth of damage. The suspect is known but has not yet been arrested.
STOCK THEFT
The final case for the week is one of stock theft. Two goats, worth R5 000, were taken from the kraal at Wolwas, Graaff-Reinet. The goats were all in the kraal when the complainant checked at 16:45 on 16 August, but when he went back at 08:00 the next morning, he found that two had been stolen. The suspect or suspects are not known at this stage, and the case is still under investigation.
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