Dear RECORD, I would appreciate your publishing a big thank you and appreciation to two officers stationed at Brackendowns SAPS.
They are warrant officer Chreitien and constable Netshita Vhadulu.
On Sunday November 26, just after noon, I replaced the chain on my chainsaw, when I was working in front of my garage in the driveway.
The gates were closed and secured. I went into the house to get a glass of milk to drink when my wife asked who the person in the driveway was.
A man used the bricks that the contractors laying the fibre optic cables on the pavements in the area had taken up from the driveway access and packed them against the wall to jump over my front wall.
He had my chainsaw in his arms and was just going over the wall to escape when I ran out and he made off down the road.
I pulled my car out of the garage and set off after him. He had run onto the Rand Water Board servitude which traverses that area from the south, all the way up to Meyersdal.
I drove down the tracks stopping to look under shrubs for the guy but he had vanished. I proceeded all the way down to the Spar centre in Brackendowns and then started back, checking taxi stops for the thief.
Near Delphinium Street, I came across the vehicle driven by officer Chreitien and his partner who were patrolling the area. I reported what had taken place and gave a brief description of the culprit.
I went to check a few more streets and then returned home. To my surprise the police vehicle had stopped in front of my place.
Officer Chreitien came to my car and stated that they had picked up the person and had my property with them. I do not believe 10 minutes had passed since my reporting to them. They spotted the person with the stolen goods within five minutes of me talking to them and apprehended him.
I opened a case at the station and the culprit was arrested. My chainsaw was released back to me. Spectacular police work, well executed and efficiency at its best. Thank you guys.
Mike Shackleford, Brackenhurst resident since 1972
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