Crime in short

During the period from 16 October to 22 October, there were two very serious crimes committed in Graaff-reinet. An 18-year-old youth was murdered in Market Square on Wednesday morning, 17 October, at 09:00. He received one stab wound to his chest. The suspect is a juvenile, who was arrested and has appeared in court. Due to the sensitivity of the case, names cannot be mentioned at this stage. The suspect was released into the care of his guardian. A young girl was allegedly raped twice in Asherville, on 30 August and 12 September, by another juvenile. The girl was too afraid to report the assault as the suspect threatened to hit her. No arrests have yet been made, as the case is still under investigation. A man was threatened with a knife and robbed of his takkies, cellphone and cash in Vink Street on 17 October, at about 21:45. He was with friends when he was approached by five unknown men, including the suspect. The value of the goods amounts to R2 150. There were two residential burglaries during the last week in Graaff-reinet. The first incident took place on 16 October at 12:21. The complainant was at school when he was informed by his wife that their son had forced open the door to their shack in Aster Street, Kroonvale and stolen a Raylite battery to the value of R900. The suspect has been arrested. The second incident took place on the same day, in Jongani Street, Umasizakhe. The complainant left her home at 07:00 and everything was in order. Later the same day, when she returned at 15:25, she found the burglar door wide open and discovered that her flat screen television was missing. The value of the television is R3 500. There was a business burglary at Spandau Secondary School in Bree Street. According to the complainant, the suspect or suspects forced a door open to gain entrance to learners’ school bags. The value of the stolen and damaged items amounts to R1 600.

Theft involving motor vehicles

Thankfully no vehicles were stolen this week, but there were two cases of theft from or out of vehicles. Between 22:00 on 17 October and 07: 00 on 18 October, a vehicle was broken into, and a black car battery worth R1 000 was stolen. Two full sets of cricket kit, worth a total of R10 000, were stolen from the back of a bakkie parked in Parsonage Street last week. The incident happened on 19 October, between 21:15 and 23:00, after the canopy of the vehicle was forced open. A case of fraud was opened after an amount of R300 000 was transferred from a man’s savings account at ABSA bank without his knowledge, after a sim swap. This happened through the ABSA branch in Church Street between 13:00 on 11 October and 11:00 on 12 October. The final case for the week is one of malicious damage to property. Sometime between 22 August and 19 October, the Vodacom tower at Dassiesfontein was broken into and the ventilator door, a light and an air conditioner were all damaged. The cost of the damage is estimated at R1 000. Seven cases of theft were opened.