ABERDEEN NEWS - Two weeks ago, the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser reported on a lucky escape for a Darling Street family from three men in balaclavas, who broke into their house and threatened the owner, Allan Webster, with knives.
Last Thursday evening, four men again tried to break into the same house.
Webster suspects that it could have been at least some of the men from the previous break-in.
Two weeks ago, the spare room of the house was not in use, which would have been seen by the intruders as they went through the house.
Last Thursday, however, Monica Webster’s son, Innocent, had arrived for a visit, and was sleeping in the spare room.
At about 23:20 he heard someone trying to break in. Since the last incident, Webster had made a point of leaving all the outside lights on at night, so when Innocent pulled back the curtains and looked out of the window, he clearly saw four men outside, trying to break in.
They took fright and ran off, and Innocent ran to Webster’s room, grabbed his pellet gun and ran out into the street after them.
The suspects went into the irrigation furrow outside the next door house, and tried to hide in the bushes.
Quite by chance, a police patrol vehicle came down Stockenstroom Street and turned into Darling Street, to be greeted by the sight of a young man pointing an air rifle at a group of men.
Cst Qashani reacted quickly and with the help of his partner, all four men were arrested and taken to the police station. According to Webster, one of the men was found with what looked like a laptop bag, with various tools that could be used to break into a house..
The men, from Thembalesizwe and aged 22, 23, 26 and 34, have been charged with possession of housebreaking implements. They appeared in court last Friday, and have been remanded in custody until their next appearance, on Thursday.
Two of the men managed to escape from custody, but were rearrested the same day in Thembalesizwe by officers from the station, as a result of information received.
Read a previous article: Lucky escape for Darling Street family
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