An off-duty police officer was in the right place at the right time to foil a robbery in progress at an Abbotsford fuel station in East London yesterday.
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said it was shortly after 1am when a police sergeant, who was checking his tyres for air, heard a commotion inside the garage building.
“When he went to investigate, he saw three men armed with knives running outside the garage shop with one carrying a cash till. The sergeant gave chase. He followed the one who had the till and caught up with him,” Mqala said.
He said the sergeant, who is stationed at the Blue Water police station and whose name has been withheld to protect him, overpowered the suspect and wrestled him to the ground until a security guard and garage staff came to his aid.
“Fortunately the till had no money and the suspect only realised he was carrying a cash-less till after his arrest,” Mqala said.
He was identified by a teller at the garage as the man who had jumped over the counter armed with a knife and removed the till.
“He is due to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court ,” Mqala said.
The two other suspects fled on foot in the direction of Beacon Bay. Their arrest was imminent, she added.
lButterworth police are searching for a man who raped a 25-year-old woman on her way to a clinic on Friday.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said it happened at 8am in Mcucuzo village.
“He demanded her cellphone but she was not in possession of a cellphone. He is alleged to have assaulted her on her upper body. She was overpowered and eventually raped.”
Afterwards the man fled.
Butterworth police are appealing to anyone who may have information that will lead to the man’s capture, to contact them on (047)401-1100 or Crime Stop 086-001-0111. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Quick-thinking off-duty officer acts fast to foil midnight robbery at garage cafe
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said it was shortly after 1am when a police sergeant, who was checking his tyres for air, heard a commotion inside the garage building.
“When he went to investigate, he saw three men armed with knives running outside the garage shop with one carrying a cash till. The sergeant gave chase. He followed the one who had the till and caught up with him,” Mqala said.
He said the sergeant, who is stationed at the Blue Water police station and whose name has been withheld to protect him, overpowered the suspect and wrestled him to the ground until a security guard and garage staff came to his aid.
“Fortunately the till had no money and the suspect only realised he was carrying a cash-less till after his arrest,” Mqala said.
He was identified by a teller at the garage as the man who had jumped over the counter armed with a knife and removed the till.
“He is due to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court ,” Mqala said.
The two other suspects fled on foot in the direction of Beacon Bay. Their arrest was imminent, she added.
lButterworth police are searching for a man who raped a 25-year-old woman on her way to a clinic on Friday.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said it happened at 8am in Mcucuzo village.
“He demanded her cellphone but she was not in possession of a cellphone. He is alleged to have assaulted her on her upper body. She was overpowered and eventually raped.”
Afterwards the man fled.
Butterworth police are appealing to anyone who may have information that will lead to the man’s capture, to contact them on (047)401-1100 or Crime Stop 086-001-0111. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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