CRIME IN SHORT
It was another very busy week for Graaffreinet SAPS, as 23 new cases of note were opened in the period from 8 to 16 October.
Seven of these cases were opened for theft, while three of them were opened for theft involving motor vehicles, with the most noteworthy one being that of a panel van that was stolen from the street in front of the owner's home in Maynier Street during the night of 12 October. When the owner got up the next morning, he found his panel van had been stolen. The value of the vehicle is R60 000.
Of concern to those living in the area will be the six cases of residential burglary reported during the week.
The first took place on 6 October at 04:00 in Zammaville. The complainant alleges that the suspects broke the door to gain entrance to his residence. A cell phone, charger, cash, knife and watch were stolen, with a total value of R2 100. The suspects are known to the complainant, but not yet arrested.
The second incident took place on 13 October at 03:30 in Oval Drive. The complainant was sleeping when two unknown men entered her residence by forcing open a window. They took a DVD player, clothing and groceries to the value of R4 000.
The next incident happened in Umasizakhe, between 22:20 on 13 October and 07:30 the next morning. According to the complainant, when she went to bed, everything was locked, but when she woke up the following morning, she found the door to the flat open and her Defy washing machine worth R3 300 was gone.
Two suspects were caught stealing bales of lucerne from a shed at Gelukslande on 14 October at 16:30. The suspects appeared in court on 16 October.
The next incident occurred in Nieubethesda. The back door of a house in Martin Street was forced open and groceries to the value of R3 592 were stolen. This happened sometime during the night of 13 October.
The final residential burglary took place in Santaville on 7 October between 16:00 and 20:30.
According to the complainant, he went to Asherville with some friends, after locking his house. When he returned, he found that the door had been forced open and his television and DVD player to the value of R3 000 had been stolen. The suspect is known, but not yet arrested.
There were also two business burglaries. The first occurred at one of the museum buildings in Church Street, between 17:00 on 9 October and 08:00 the next morning. According to the complainant, he locked the museum before going home and when he opened it the next day, he noticed the front window was broken. Upon further investigation, he found that a computer had been stolen, valued at R10 000.
The second, at Union High School in Donkin Street, occurred sometime between 14:15 on 12 October and 11:30 on 14 October. The suspect or suspects gained entrance through the administration office's door, then broke open the walk-in safe. They then opened another safe (in the walk-in safe) with a grinder and threw items on the floor. The alarm system was also broken. Thus far it has been ascertained that one laptop is missing, valued at R10 000.
Malicious damage to property
There were two cases of malicious damage to property, one in town and one in Nieubethesda.
The first occurred on 9 October between 19:00 and 21:21 in Church Street, in front of Goldrush Casino. When the owner returned to her vehicle, she saw that there was a dent in the fender, as well as the bumper, and the windscreen was cracked. The damage is estimated at R5 000.
The second incident took place on 12 October at 10:15 at Graham Street, Nieubethesda. The complainant's door was damaged by three known male suspects, who kicked the door. The damages amount to R950. Three arrests were made.
Two cases of stock theft were also reported. A cow was allegedly removed from the kraal at the Waste Transfer Station on 10 October at 14:00.
The animal, valued at R9 500, was slaughtered at the dumping site.
The second incident took place between 17:00 on 12 October and 08:00 on 14 October at the Mandela Municipal grounds in Graaff-reinet. According to the complainant, two goats were taken from the kraal. One goat was left in an open field near the grounds. A piglet was also taken from the kraal. The total value of the animals is R2 000.
The final case of the week is one of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm.
The incident took place on 12 October at 18:00 at the train bridge near the graveyard, near the SPCA. The complainant was on his way home when six unknown men approached him, armed with knives. One of the men stabbed him in the head and he was also kicked in the face.
The suspects took clothing, shocks and groceries to the value of R3 000. A witness will be able to identify the suspects if he sees them again. The case is still under investigation, and there have been no arrests to date.