BRACKENDOWNS – At around 9:53 until 13:00 on January 12, Colonel Frank Hutchson was busy with crime prevention duties in Brackendowns when he noticed a black Toyota Fortuna with five male occupants reversing out of a yard in Rae Frankel Street.
Colonel Hutchson thought it was suspicious and he decided to follow the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle sped off and Colonel Hutchson called for back-up on a radio call.
Members of the CPF who were patrolling the Alberton area and a reservist responded to the Colonel’s concern.
Reservist Tyrone Magill and Murray Simpson attempted to stop the vehicle when the suspects headed to Swartkoppies Road. The suspect in the vehicle almost drove over the reservist and refused to stop.
The members chased the vehicle to the R544. Elsburg SAPS members blocked off the road and when the suspects saw they had nowhere to make an escape, they made a U-turn, were stopped by the reservist, Colonel Hutschon and other members who joined in the pursuit. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran in different directions.
Three suspects were apprehended and two managed to escape in the nearby open veld. The dog unit was called immediately but the dogs could not identify where the suspects had gone.
At around 10:20, the three suspects were arrested and taken to Brackendowns SAPS. It was discovered that the vehicle used by the suspects was stolen in Durban on December 29.
On further investigation, it was found that the suspects attempted to break into a house in Randhart and Brackendowns. One of the suspects is wanted in KZN for robbery.
During the chase, a police vehicle from Brackendowns was involved in an accident, on the corner of Hennie Alberts and Dormehl streets, Brackenhurst.
“People should be vigilant when going to a car wash; if you have a permanent licence disc holder, ensure that your licence disc has not been removed, because in some cases it is used in commission of a crime,” warned Colonel Arikum.
