GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Many property-related crimes were reported in Graaff-Reinet this past week.
There were two cases of common robbery, and one of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm.
The first case of common robbery took place on 1 October at 12:45 on the Middelburg road, opposite Umasizakhe. The complainant reported that the suspect (who is known to the complainant) approached him and searched him without any reason. The suspect then took a DSTV decoder, as well as cash to the amount of R385 from the complainant. The suspect has not yet been arrested, and the case is still under investigation.
On 2 October, another robbery took place on Oval Drive about 19:25. The complainant alleges that she and her boyfriend were coming from town when they were robbed by two unknown men on a bicycle. The men took their toiletries, bank cards and other groceries, valued at R1200., before fleeing the scene.
Also on the N9 opposite Umasizkhe, a man was threatened with a knife by two suspects (known to him) on 2 October. The suspects took meat and cash to the value of R100 before fleeing the scene. No arrests have yet been made, and the case is still under investigation.
There was also a case of fraud reported to the Graaff-Reinet police. The incident took place on 17 May at about 08:58. The suspect allegedly advertised an air conditioner for sale via Whatsapp for the amount of R4000. The complainant gave the advertiser the amount in cash for the air conditioner, but the suspect has failed to deliver the advertised item. Crime scene is West Street. The suspect is known, but not yet arrested.
There were seven cases of theft last week.
The first incident took place on 2 October between 00:00 and 20:55 at Skynsveldhoek farm. According to the complainant, four poles to the value of R640 were stolen.
A green hosepipe worth R500 was taken from the yard of a house in Bourke Street on 30 September at about 07:20. The suspect jumped over a wall to get into the yard, and his image was caught on CCTV.
Groceries to the value of R3 000 were stolen from Shoprite at 16:30 on 9 September. It is alleged that suspects took items from the shop, placed it in plastic bags and left the shop without paying. The suspects are known to the complainant, but not yet arrested.
Another incident took place on 3 October at 10:00 at Lower Location. The complainant alleges that tools were left inside the car of the suspect that needed to be repaired by complainant. The suspect refused to hand over the tools after an argument ensued about money. The value of the tools is R1 500. The suspect known to complainant, but has not been yet arrested.
Cash to the value of R3294 was allegedly taken after a man was sent to deliver goods from the Coca Cola depot in Church Street to shops in town on 14 September. The complainant reported that the suspect was sent on deliveries, but did not return to the depot with all the money he was due to receive from the shops, only handing in some of the cash. The suspect is known, but not yet arrested.
In yet another case of theft, which took place in Santaville between 22:00 on 6 October and 11:00 the next day, the complainant alleges that he had put his laptop away, but found it missing when he went to get it the next day. The laptop and charger were taken, as well as a 1GB external hard drive, with a total estimated value of R1 600.
The final theft case involves a bicycle, valued at R700, which was lent to the suspect on 5 October at 1:00. When the owner asked for it back on 8 October, the suspect refused to hand it back. The incident occurred in Asherville. The suspect is known to the complainant, but has not yet been arrested.
There were also four cases of theft out of a motor vehicle, and one attempted theft.
A caravan parked in Meintjies Street was broken into some time between 10:00 on 20 July and 08:00 on 2 October. According to the complainant, access was gained into the caravan by breaking a window and a portable vacuum cleaner, fishing rods, an aluminium case and other loose items were stolen. The value of the missing property amounts to R6100.
The second incident took place on 03 October at 00:40 at Parsonage St. SAPS members were on patrol duties when they noticed a suspicious male, carrying a box. The members stopped the suspect and searched him. He was found to be in possession of tools, a car battery and a computer hard drive. The value of these stolen items amounts to approximately R16 500. The suspect had forced open the boot of the vehicle. He was arrested.
Another incident took place outside of Graaf-Reinet, between Port Elizabeth and Graaff-Reinet between 17:00 on 1 Ocober and O9:00 on 3 October. According to the complainant, she drove from Port Elizabeth to Graaff-Reinet, and stopped to buy something to eat along the road. When she came back to the vehicle, she noticed that her laptop and charger were missing. The value is R5000.
The last case of this nature took place between 23:00 on 6 October and midnight the same night, in Umasizakhe. According to the complainant, he left an envelope with R3000 cash, inside his vehicle. Later, when he went to fetch the envelope, he found it to be missing. The suspect is known to the complainant, but not yet arrested.
There was also a case opened for attempted theft out of a motor vehicle. The incident took place outside Shoprite on 7 October at about 10:40. According to the complainant, an unknown person broke the passenger side window. Nothing was taken from the vehicle, but the damage to the window amounts to about R4000.
There was one arrest for possession of suspected stolen goods on 4 October at 21:30 in Stockenstroom Street. A SAPS member executing his duties saw a suspicious vehicle. He stopped the vehicle, a silver Toyota, and searched it with the consent of the suspect.
Upon searching of vehicle, he found cash hidden in the boot, as well as under the seats. The total amount of cash found was R158 460. When SAPS member asked the suspect why he had such a large amount of cash in his possession, the suspect alleged that he collected the money from his shop in Murraysburg. He did not have any proof that the money really came from the shop, and also could not produce a legal permit and passport which means he is an illegal immigrant from Ethiopia.
Finally, there were four burglaries, two residential and two from business properties.
The first residential burglary took place on 3 October at 04:30 in Kroonvale. The suspect or supects kicked the door open to gain entrance to the property. Clothing to the value of R500 was taken.
The second was in Santaville, sometime between 12:45 and 22:10 on 2 October. The complainant left his Huawei P8 cell phone on charge before leaving home. When he came back later, his girlfriend informed him that, when she came back from the hospital, she found the lock on the door had been broken off, the house had been broken into and the cell phone was missing. Its value is R4000.
One business burglary took place at Dynamic clothing store in Caledon Street. According to the complainant, the shop was locked and everything in order on 07 October at 14:00. On Monday, 8 October at about 06:50, he was informed by the SAPS that his shop had been broken into. A window was broken to gain entrance. A television, amplifier and computer hard drive were stolen. valued a R7000.
The final case for the week was at Union High School, in Donkin Street. The incident took place between 17:45 on 7 October and 07:00 the next day. According to the complainant, the suspect or suspects forced open a door to the store room and took an angle grinder and drill to the value of R4000.
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