Police again expressed concern today about a trend in violent house robberies in Grahamstown after an elderly man was stabbed by intruders in the early hours of Saturday 26 September..
This is the latest in a spate of attacks on people in their homes over the past month and a half, and one of at leasr four criminal incidents in Grahamstown in the past 48 hours.
Police again expressed concern today about a trend in violent house robberies in Grahamstown after an elderly man was stabbed by intruders in the early hours of Saturday 26 September..
This is the latest in a spate of attacks on people in their homes over the past month and a half, and one of at leasr four criminal incidents in Grahamstown in the past 48 hours.
Grahamstown Crime Intelligence Officer Captain Milanda Coetzer said quick-thinking police officers were at 1.20am on their way to the scene of a house robbery at a house in Hillsview Road, Sunnyside this morning when they saw three men carrying a lot of items in Beaufort Street.
They agreed to being searched by Constables Sifundo Kulati and Megan March, who then proceeded to attend to the case.
Coetzer said, “On their arrival they found the 69-year-old home owner with stab wounds to the chest and back. He had sustained these when his assailants had entered the house.
“He was receiving medical attention at the time, but was able to identify the property seized from the suspects as his.
“He was also able to identify his assailants.
The man was taken to hospital for further medical attention and the three suspects were detained,” Coetzer said.
During the detention process, it was determined that all three were currently out on parole.
“Grahamstown police remain concerned that criminals are willing to enter houses when people are at home and have become so violent,” Coetzer said.
“It must also be noted that the three assailants as well as the one from Market Street were all out on parole when they committed these offences.”
An elderly man was stabbed in a robbery at his Market Street home on 22 August.
Grand Res
While police were still attending the Hillsview Road case another robbery occurred at the Grand Res in High Street.
“Two assailants entered the premises after obtaining entry based on a false enquiry,” Coetzer said. “One was in possession of a firearm with which he threatened the security guard on duty.”
Coetzer said the men forced the security guard to unlock the office door and took a laptop, cash and the guard’s cellphone.
“They left the guard locked up in the office and left.
“No one was injured in this incident, Coetzer said.
Fingo Bottle Store
Around 6.30pm on Friday 25 September staff at Fingo bottle store were threatened at gunpoint by two men, Coetzer said.
They forced the two staff members on duty into the back of the shop and threatened to hurt them if they did not stay there.
About five minutes later, one crept out to see if all was clear and activated the panic alarm.
Hi-tec and SAPS responded, but there was no sign of the assailants.
Coetzer said they managed to get away with four bottles of Johnny Walker Red Label whiskey and an undisclosed amount of cash.
“No one was injured in the incident,” Coetzer said.
‘Sir your car’s been stolen’
Police returned a Grahamstown man’s car to him this morning before he knew it had been stolen.
Grahamstown Crime Intelligence Officer Captain Milanda Coetzer said Sergeant Ncedisile Feni and Constable Nozuko Chaza were on patrol in High Street at 01:30am Saturday 26 September when they noticed a white Ford Laser being driven in a way that made them suspicious.
“When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver attempted to escape.
“They managed to bring the vehicle to a standstill in New Street,” Coetzer said.
“When they approached the vehicle they noticed that the door had been forced open and that the ignition was damaged.
“When the driver was questioned he could not give a satisfactory account.
“Further investigation lead to the tracing of the owner. He was woken shortly after 01.45am by Constables Kaizer Hambaze and Lesley Jack of Grahamstown K9, who informed him of the theft of his vehicle,” Coetzer said.
“The owner had last seen his vehicle safely parked at 5pm on Friday.”
The driver of the vehicle was detained on a charge of possession of stolen motor vehicle.
“The owner in the meantime has registered a case of theft of motor vehicle at Joza police station,” Coetzer said.
