Teen held after bank break-in

Police recover cash, laptops after boy, 16, seen running from Absa branch

ATEENAGER was caught red-handed after allegedly breaking into Absa bank in Linton Grange and trying to run down the road yesterday with thousands of rands stashed in small bank bags.

The attempted burglary happened at about 3am when a 16-year-old allegedly smashed the bank’s front glass door before ransacking one of the manager’s offices.

Flying Squad officials responded to a call from a witness who spotted the teenager running out of the bank.

He was caught with small bags of money stolen from the bank – estimated to be thousands of rands – and two laptops.

According to Absa, the money belongs to an employee.

Officers on the scene said the call to 10111 was placed by a passing witness after the bank alarm was activated.

“While [we were] responding, the suspect hid and the police drove past him,” an officer, who did want to be named, said.

“One of the officers then spotted him running behind them when he looked in the rearview mirror.”

Two officers jumped out and gave chase. The teenager ran through a petrol station where he was cornered by the police vehicle and the chasing officers.

The teenager, who is frequently seen begging for money in Linton Grange, is believed to have used a screwdriver to shatter the glass entrance to the bank.

Absa regional executive Johnny Alcock declined to elaborate on the incident as the matter was still under investigation.

“The money that was stolen is not Absa-owned cash but personal [an Absa employee] cash that was found in a briefcase,” he said.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said the money and laptops were recovered.

“The money will be counted as part of the investigation and at this stage the amount taken is not yet known,” he said.

The teenager, whose identity cannot be revealed as he is a minor, was detained at the Nerina One Stop Justice Centre for juveniles.

He is due to appear in the Nerina House Juvenile Court today.