Beach robber suspects released because ‘no charges were laid’
THREE teenagers from Capricorn, wanted in connection with alleged robberies on Sunrise Beach, were released by police because no charges had been laid on the day of the arrest and they were minors, said Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith.
This, even though a number of complainants had laid charges at the police station in the preceding weeks following armed robberies by teenagers.
Smith said Major Engelbrecht, from Muizenberg police station, had told him the three suspects arrested by city law enforcement had been profiled and photographed, but had been released because they were minors and no charges had been laid on that particular day (last Tuesday).
“She also said the teenagers had merely been found lying around in the dunes and so police had to release them.”
But Smith said he had been told by his officer that the teenagers had been “casing out” victims from the dunes.
The trio had fled when they spotted him, but he called for reinforcements and managed to catch all the suspects with the help of a colleague.
“They knew exactly why they had been arrested.”
He said that at Muizenberg police station the arresting officers were informed that the suspects were wanted in connection with previous robberies.
“During a follow-up two days later, the officers were informed that the suspects had been released because none of the complainants wanted to lay charges.”
This turned out to be false, because whenthe Cape Argus contacted the victims, who included UCT lecturer Dr Tessa Dowling and Rondebosch couple Chet and Annemarie Sainsbury, they said they had not been notified of any arrests, even though they had made cases at the time they were robbed.
Smith said Engelbrecht told him that the complainants who had laid charges in the preceding weeks would be contacted and asked to identify the three.
Smith said it might prove difficult to find the suspects again, even if the correct details had been given to the police.
He said in a statement on Friday that law enforcement agencies were under immense pressure to address crime and that it became very difficult to do so when members of the public who fall victim to criminals choose to turn their backs on the process.
He added that he had put out a statement criticising people for not laying charges in good faith.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel André Traut confirmed the three suspects’ particulars had been recorded and could be used during their investigation of crimes perpetrated in the area where they were arrested.
SMITH SAID IT MIGHT PROVE DIFFICULT TO FIND THE SUSPECTS AGAIN