Honeydew SAPS Crime Briefs

From May 7, 2010

Theft of motor vehicles is currently showing an increase in the Honeydew Precinct. Honeydew SAPS want to make drivers and owners aware of the following:
• Please DO NOT leave your vehicle unlocked, even if you think you will be away for only a minute, NEVER leave your keys in the ignition!
• Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked when you park your car.
• Avoid to stopping at remote places,
• Park your vehicle in places that are well lit,
• Avoid parking your motor vehicle where there are no security officers guarding other cars.
• A gear lock is an affordable and a very effective ant-theft device.
• When having a function at your house - do not leave vehicles on the verge / pavement outside your residence, rather make arrangements for the vehicles to be parked inside the premises or employ services of a car guard.
• Ensure that you know your vehicle’s registration number, in order for the SAPS to circulate the number if your vehicle is stolen.

Residents are asked to be on the lookout for the following motor vehicles that are involved in crime in the precinct:
A blue VW Polo with two male occupants, they are armed and involved in hi-jackings.
A red Toyota Yaris with two male occupants, they are involved in theft of motor vehicles,
A gold Mercedes, A-class, with two occupants, they are armed and involved in house robberies.

House robbery:
At about 11am the complainant a domestic worker was busy with her duties in the house when she heard the intercom ringing. She then noticed three unknown men at the gate with a white bakkie. The men informed the complainant that they were there to take measurements of the garage as the owner was allegedly renovating the garage.

One of the men then pretended to talk to the owner on his cell phone. The men then informed the complainant that she must open the gate as the owner f the residence was on his way home.

The complainant then opened the gate for the men; the men then grabbed the complainant and forced her back into the house. The complainant was tied up and the suspects ransacked the house taking electrical equipment, jewellery, cameras, laptops etc.

Garage robberies:
Garage owners and managers are again urged to ensure that there is not a large amount of cash in tills during the evenings and where possible to make use of drop safes. During one of the garage robberies during the past week the cashier was busy assisting clients when approximately four unknown men entered the shop, with firearms.

They instructed the staff and customers to keep quiet. One of the suspects went to the back of the shop with one of the staff to get the staff’s cell phones. When this suspect returned his other accomplices had fled the scene leaving him behind.

One of the staff members had already pressed the panic button. This suspect then tried to flee the scene but the petrol attendants, security officers and Honeydew SAPS were in full force on the scene and he was arrested in possession of an unlicensed firearm. The TRIO task team is investigating the case.

The following convictions were secured by the Honeydew Detective Branch:
Inspector Frieda Massyn obtained a sentence of 7 years imprisonment for a Robbery Common case.
Sergeant Tumi Phakedi obtained a sentence of 3 years imprisonment for a Shoplifting case.
Sergeant Leonard Zoza obtained a sentence of 4 years imprisonment for a House Breaking and Theft case.
Constable Ursula Ditsi obtained a sentence of 10 years imprisonment for an Attempted Murder case.