Theft victim gets his belongings back

A group of around 30 people chased and caught a man they accused of breaking into a vehicle at the north end of Bathurst Street last Friday shortly after midday.

When Grocott’s Mail arrived, the man, who lay sprawled on a traffic island, had blood on his face. A church minister on the scene said the group had been roughing him up when she intervened. As they began to turn their anger on her, Hi-Tec security company arrived and in turn called the police.

Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the owner of the vehicle had been interviewed by the police.

“He indicated that he did not wish to pursue a criminal matter, as he is from out of town and his belongings had been recovered,” Govender said. “The alleged suspect was therefore not arrested.”

Security officers at the scene said the public should be careful in the area, as ‘car-jamming’ was common. They also said there had been a spate of theft on the city centre streets recently.

Govender said, “In line with our back to basics approach, the SAPS in Grahamstown continues to conduct high visibility foot and vehicle patrols in the CBD.

“The crime of thefts of and from motor vehicles remain a concern. Owners of vehicles are continually urged not to leave belongings and valuables in vehicles, as opportunistic criminals would use any means to acquire them.”

Govender said several known offenders had recently been arrested.