MEDIA STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATION COMMANDER, BRIGADIER NIKIWE HOAEANE
A well informed and empowered community is what we, as Vanderbijlpark SAPS, strive towards, as we keep fighting the good fight against crime. Such a well informed community are more alert and detour criminals. The following weekend crime and crime trends were reported.
CRIME IN GENERAL
Theft of motor vehicle has increased, followed by house robbery and assault GBH.
Housebreaking cases and business breaking
Houses were broken into in SE8, SE7, SE4, SE2, SW5, CW4, CE2 and Bophelong Ext.6. Items such as LED TV’s, laptops, computers, sound system, tablet phones, cell phones, mountain bikes, heater, jewellery, cash, food, welding machine and clothing were stolen from the houses.
House robbery
Took place in SE7 victim was sleeping in the early hours of the morning when he heard a big bang on the door, five unknown suspects stormed into his room, one armed with a firearm and took his cell phone and a laptop. We will like to alert the students especially residing in the student houses to ask the landlords to put more security measures in the premises, not to leave premises opened when other students went out for the weekend as this possesses danger to them.
Business breakings
Business breakings have decreased, although we have a decrease businesses were broken into. Salons have been the target in the CBD where items such as hair dryers, hairpieces, nail dryer, laptop monitor, LCD TV, computer tower and drilling machine were stolen.
Another business was broken into in the CBD a spanner window was stolen. Schools were also affected by business breakings, in SE3 12 volts batteries were stolen, in SE7 school was broken into and a projector was stolen. Vanderbijlpark SAPS is pleading with the community that reside next to schools to report any suspicious activity.
Business robbery
Criminals have been targeting the NW7 businesses, security guards have been overpowered by a group of 6 to 10 or more suspects, who assault them and steal copper cables, tyres, grinders or more than that. Vanderbijlpark SAPS will like to invite all the business owners of the NW7 area to the meeting on the 24th August 2017 for the meeting Venue :- V-Tech Industrial, Mitchellin Street at 13:00 exactly.
Robbery aggravating
Happened in DF Malan street in the CBD victim was walking alone during the day when he was approached by two unknown suspects, who pretended to be asking for directions, asked the victim what was in the bag. Victim refused to tell them suspect showed the victim the firearm, took his cell phone, laptop and cash. Suspects instructed the victim to run and never to look back.
Robbery without a firearm
Happened in Bophelong Ext.17 at night the victim was walking alone when he was approached by four unknown suspects armed with knives threatened to stab him searched him took his cell phone and cash. 2nd incident took place in Klasie Havenga in the CBD the victim was walking alone in the afternoon when two unknown suspects threatened him with knives demanded money and his cell phone, one suspect searched the victim and took his cell phone suspects fled by foot. 3rd incident took place in DF Malan Street in the CBD victim was from the ATM when he was approached by the suspect who threatened him with a knife when the victim was amazed by the act two more suspects joined and took money from his hands. Suspects fled the scene by foot.
Carjacking
The was a carjacking in De Villieers Street in CE3 at 20:45 where the victim came across an old lady next to the Opel Corsa asking for help, victim stopped to help the old lady suspect showed up from the Opel Corsa pushed the victim off the bike and fled with the victims bike, the old lady also fled with her Opel Corsa. Community must not endanger their lives when assisting people.
2nd carjacking took place in Andries Potgieter Street SE7 the victim was sitting in the vehicle with his friend when they were approached by two unknown suspects armed with firearms, hijacked the VW Polo suspects dropped the victim in Walkerville Plots and fled.
Theft of motor vehicle
Theft of motor vehicle has increased drastically in Vanderbijlpark and Bophelong a Toyota Avanza was stolen in CW3, VW Polo in SE4, VW Golf in SW5, Nissaan bakkie in SW5, trailer in Mantevrede, Toyota Cressida in Bophelong, Isuzu in Bophelong, Ford tractor in CE2, Yamaha motorbike in CW1, Kia 2700 in CW3, VW Golf in CW4, Jet Ski in Mantevrede Plots, ASX Mitsubishi in Mantevrede Plots and a Fiat Uno stolen in SE6.
Theft out of motor vehicle\ theft from motor vehicle
A jacket and the wallet was stolen out of the vehicle in the CBD, laptops, tablet phone stolen out of the the vehicles in SE2. Set of golf clubs stolen out of the vehicle in SE7. A car battery, car radio and speakers were stolen from the vehicle in CE2, 4 car wheels were stolen from the vehicle in Northdene Plots. Truck battery was stolen from the truck in NW7 and 6 crane batteries stolen again in NW7.
SUCCESSES
The Vanderbijlpark SAPS managed to arrest a total of 18 people over the weekend for various crimes. 4 peoplen for drugs, 1 shebeen closed and 7 people arrested for driving under influence.
SERGEANT GERTRUDE MAKHALE – COMMUNICATION OFFICER
