Crime update – Grocott's Mail

Elderly pair mugged Grahamstown police are extremely concerned about the latest street robbery incident in which two elderly women, one aged 82 and the other 78, had their handbags snatched from them while walking along George Street last Friday.

Police spokesperson Captain Milanda Coetzer said the two women were walking down George Street from Shoprite on Friday around 2.15pm when they were confronted by two knife-wielding men.

"Their handbags with their purses and house keys were grabbed from them and the men then ran away," Coetzer said.

Police are investigating a case of robbery with a knife. No arrests have yet been made.

Counterfeit arrest
Two patrolling police officers arrested a man on charges of dealing in counterfeit goods last Friday. Coetzer said Constables Ntobeko Mkula and Zimkita Marali were patrolling along Church Square in High Street on Friday at about 5.10pm when they noticed a foreign national offering CDs for sale to passers-by just outside Pep.

"When he saw the members he attempted to hide the property and started to run away from them," Coetzer said. The officers managed to arrest him in the parking area behind Clicks off Dundas Street. C oetzer said the officers searched the man and found 43 counterfeit DVDs and CDs in his possession.

"He admitted to selling these DVDs and CDs for R10 apiece to passers-by," she said. He was arrested and was due to appear in court on Monday this week. Police are investigating a case of dealing in counterfeit goods.

Drunk driving
Grahamstown police arrested five people in separate incidents for drunk driving last weekend.

On Friday 14 November at 10.10pm, Constable Ntobeko Mkula was patrolling along Dr Jacob Zuma Drive when he found a vehicle proceeding in an erratic fashion. Coetzer said the officer stopped the silver BMW and arrested a 25-year-old man. After a forensic investigation, he was detained on charges of drunk driving.
On Saturday 15 November around 4am Constable Bathande Mazamise was stopped while on patrol and informed of a vehicle which had overturned in Vukani. Coetzer said on arrival the officer found a man trapped inside a silver BMW.
"Two other men were standing next to the overturned vehicle. One of them, a 26-year-old man, was identified as the driver of the vehicle," she said. The driver was arrested and a forensic investigation followed. He was detained on charges of reckless and/or negligent driving as well as drunk driving. He was later released on bail.
On Saturday 15 November around 4.15pm Constable Ricardo Denston was called to a scene where a Renault had driven into a fire hydrant. Coetzer said the driver, a 30-year-old man, was arrested and detained on charges of drunk driving and reckless and/or negligent driving.
On Sunday16 November at about 7pm, Constable Bathande Mazamise and Constable Charlene Hofman were called to attend an accident scene along Milner street at the Settlers Hospital intersection. Coetzer said on their arrival they found two vehicles, a white Ford Figo blocking the traffic and a metallic blue Toyota Corolla standing at the stop sign.
"On closer investigation it was found that the driver of the Toyota was not in possession of a driver's licence," she said. The 27-year-old man was arrested and detained on charges of drunk driving.
On Sunday16 November at 8.40pm Warrant Officers Kristie Prins and Kavin Siebritz were patrolling along upper Dr Jacob Zuma Drive next to Eluxolweni when they noticed a red Fox travelling in front of their vehicle, swerving one side of the road to the other into the opposite lane in front of oncoming traffic.
"They managed to bring the Fox to a safe stop and interviewed the driver. They noted that he appeared to be under the influence of liquor," Coetzer said. The 45-year-old man was arrested and detained.

Drug arrests
On Friday 14 November in the early hours of the morning, Grahamstown Route Patrol members, Sergeant Sipho Gwente; Constables Lungile Mbadu; Koko Makeba and Tabo Mnguni stopped an Opel Astra along the N2. Coetzer said the vehicle had four passengers and when they searched it the found four bags of dagga.

"A 24-year-old man from Mthatha was arrested and detained on charge of possession of dagga," she said. The dagga weighed 36.8kg with a street value of R36 800.00. The 24-year-old man, Thokozani Mrawenzima, appeared in court on 17 November and was remanded in custody until his next appearance.

Stolen property

On Friday 14 November around 6.17pm, Warrant Officer Chris Duiker, sector manager for Scotts Farm and Hooggenoeg areas, was on duty when he came across two men carrying bags. Coetzer said Grahamstown Crime Prevention Unit members, Warrant Officer Maxwell Sonyamba and Constable Russion arrested the two men, aged 30 and 47 in Wolseley Street after investigation into the origin of the goods.
"Both told them that they got the items from the dumping place next to the army base." Coetzer said. However, Constable Russion traced the owner of one of the items to a house in Henry Street, Grahamstown. The owner of the house identified the items in the bag as his belongings, Coetzer said. Both men were detained in Grahamstown. They will appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Monday 17 November. One man was released on a warning and the other remains in custody.
On Sunday 16 November Constables Gareth Prince and Lesley Sauls from Joza police station were on patrol when they found and arrested a 19-year-old man who was in possession of a solar geyser which he claimed to have found in the bushes in Ext 9. The value of the geyser is estimated to be about R2 800.00. He was detained in Joza police station. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday 19 November.