www.MyPE.co.za: From the ADT Security Crime Newsletter we have picked out a couple of interesting crime incidents:
Uitenhage police have issued a strong warning to residents saying they need to avoid street corner gambling games. This follows after a number of people have fallen victim to scams where hustlers would trick people to take part in fixed games, scamming them out of their money.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said “many vulnerable” people had fallen prey to these scammers.
“All the games have a predetermined outcome and participants are conned out of money,” she said.
Naidu said the games had various variations, including three match boxes, three bottle caps or three playing cards. She said there had definitely been an increase in illegal gambling activity since the beginning of the holiday season.
‘Policemen’ behind robbery in Central
Three men, allegedly dressed as police officers and driving a police vehicle, are being sought for their involvement in a robbery and abduction of a Tanzanian national in Castle Hill, Central on Sunday afternoon, December 19th. The men, all of whom were dressed in police uniform, forced their way into the Tanzanian man’s apartment, pushed him to the floor and demanded that he hand over R17,000, which they knew he had in his possession. The man said they then ransacked his apartment, and found R10,000 he had hidden in a cupboard. The men then forced him into a police van and drove him to the Humewood police station, but did not go inside. He was then taken by the men and dropped off in Motherwell.
Police have confirmed that a case of armed robbery and kidnapping was being investigated.
False case leads to arrest for Port Elizabeth beach goer
A man who claimed he had been robbed of his firearm along the Port Elizabeth beachfront on Wednesday night, December 22nd, has been arrested after police found out he had lied. The man, who is 33-years-old, said he had been walking along the beach when he was attacked and his firearm was taken. However, when he was questioned about the incident, his story kept changing and the police investigators became suspicious. It later came out that the man had lost his firearm and had made up the story about the robbery. He has been charged with defeating the ends of justice and negligent loss of a firearm.
Bomb scare shuts down Govan Mbeki
Police cordoned off Govan Mbeki Avenue for an hour from around 8am on Monday, December 21st, after a bomb scare at the Port Elizabeth Post Office. The scare was caused when staff found a suspicious package in the foyer. Sniffer dogs reacted positive to the package, causing the building to be evacuated and the road to be cordoned off while the bomb squad investigated. After a hole was drilled into the package and a camera used to investigate the contents, it was discovered that the package contained a computer server. It is believed the dogs reacted positively to a chemical in the packaging tape.
The road and building were reopened shortly after 9am.
Police clamp down on Motherwell crime
A number of arrests have followed after special operations conducted in Motherwell over the past two weekends. Police have arrested 25 people for drunk driving, with a further 105 arrested for drunken and disorderly behaviour.
A further 10 individuals were arrested for outstanding warrants of arrest, eight for the possession of mandrax, six for driving without a licence and one for the possession of an illegal firearm. Five people were held for theft, four for malicious damage to property, six for the possession of dagga and another six for domestic violence.
Police also arrested 19 people for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, three for housebreaking and theft, two for the possession of stolen goods and one for contravening a protection order.
Card skimming fraudsters behind bars, kingpin still on the loose
Three women, two of whom are pregnant, spent Christmas behind bars for their involvement in a hi-tech card skimming syndicate operating in the Eastern Cape. The syndicate is believed to have stolen millions from Port Elizabeth and East London residents. The women, all in their twenties, were living the high life in Port Elizabeth boutique hotels when they were arrested. They are facing 117 counts of credit and bank card fraud and the illegal possession of card-skimming devices.
According to the court records, they were caught on video footage and acted together as a syndicate in fitting and removing skimming devices at ATMs in Port Elizabeth and East London. Up to 500 bank cards are believed to have been compromised by the syndicate.
The kingpin, a Bulgarian national, is still being sought by police.
Burglars hit Beverly Grove home
A home in Bendor Drive, Beverly Grove was burgled on Wednesday afternoon, December 22nd. The thieves first tried to gain acess to the house through the sliding door but their tool broke and they could not get the doors opened. They then forced a window of the home office open and stole two laptops, jewellery as well as a video and digital camera. Police have opened a case of burglary.
Teddy Bears stolen from shop on Old Cape Road
Burglars who broke into a business along Old Cape Road during the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 22nd, threw stones at employees who are living on the premises who went to investigate when the shop’s alarm was activated. The men forced their way into the store and smashed a popular game machine, where the object is to catch a teddy bear with a remote controlled claw, stealing all the teddy bears inside. They also grabbed a number of cigarette cartons and an airtime machine. A case of burglary has been opened.
Thieves drop stolen goods and flee Armed Response Officer
Two men climbed onto the roof of a business premises in McCarthy Street in Gerald Smith, Uitenhage on Wednesday, December 22nd. The men then removed two skylights to gain access to the premises and grabbed some power and gardening tools. They then forced the back roller shutter door open to take the stolen goods out, but were confronted by the sight of an oncoming ADT armed response officer. The men immediately dropped the stolen items and fled the scene. A case of burglary has been opened.
Man electrocuted to death in Spaza Shop
A man was electrocuted to death in a spaza shop in Kwazakhele on Friday morning, December 24th, after touching a plug near the roller door to the shop. The man collapsed and was declared dead by emergency personnel who arrive on the scene minutes later.
Man stabbed repeatedly in head on Boxing Day
A man was rushed to Dora Nginza after he was stabbed repeatedly in the back and head after an argument during the early morning hours of Boxing Day, December 26th. The man collapsed in Blackburn Street and was rushed to the hospital by a passerby who had found him. It is not clear who attacked him or why.
Thief uses piece of wire to steal clothes from shop
An enterprising thief used a piece of wire to steal a number of clothing items from a shop in Drostdy Street in Uitenhage on Boxing Day, December 26th. The thief managed to pry open a side window and, using a firm piece of wire, managed to fish out 15 packets of kiddies clothing and 15 packets of men’s shirts before one packet fell to the floor, triggering the alarm and causing the thief to flee. A case of theft has been opened.
Get involved in your Neighbourhood Watch
If you are interested to become part of an existing Neighbourhood Watch in your area, or would like to start a Neighbourhood Watch of your own, kindly contact Dave Moorhouse on 078 322 1798 for more information.
Contact ADT Security.
Alan Straton
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