Four suspects apprehended for theft out of a motor vehicle outside of a local school recently, will reappear in court on 12 September.
The suspects, aged 18 to 22, were apprehended on 4 August and appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court on 7 August, but were released on a warning with the case being postponed to 12 September. This was according to a court official.
The suspects were arrested in front of Eikestad Primary school, after they broke into a vehicle that was parked in front of Rhenish Primary school in Stellenbosch.
This was according to Captain Nathalie Martin, communications officer at Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS).
On the day of the theft, a security guard from Eikestad Primary School informed ABC Security about a suspicious vehicle driving around the area, and a man walking between the vehicles.
This was according to the officer on duty at ABC Security, who has requested to remain anonymous.
The officer on duty from ABC security, who apprehended four suspects outside of Eikestad Primary School on 4 August for theft out of a motor vehicle, stated a remote jamming device was found within the vehicle. PHOTO: Liam Voorma
Remote jamming suspected
“The suspects were driving a Mercedes Benz C218 and had a jamming mechanism inside the vehicle,” claimed the officer on duty at ABC Security.
By pressing a button on the jamming mechanism it blocks the automatic locking frequency, preventing a vehicle from locking, he explained. “When we saw the suspects, we stopped in front of them and called for them to step out of the vehicle and to show their hands,” said the officer on duty.
The suspects got out, laid on the ground with their hands behind their backs and the vehicle was searched, he said. Inside the vehicle, ABC Security found a stolen wallet, a knife and the remote jamming device, he said.
SAPS was called at around 13:30, and a case was opened for theft out of a motor vehicle, said the officer on duty.
“The Mercedes Benz C218 used has been impounded by SAPS,” he said.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested four suspects for theft out of a motor vehicle on 4 August outside Rhenish Primary School, according to Captain Nathalie Martin, communications officer at Stellenbosch SAPS. PHOTO: Liam Voorma
Moving forward
“Hearing about what was happening outside our school naturally led to fear since we didn’t know exactly what was unfolding,” said Neil Pretorius, deputy principal at Rhenish Primary School.
However, Rhenish Primary is grateful for the swift action on the part of ABC Security, said Pretorius.
Four suspects, arrested for theft out of a motor vehicle on 4 August, appeared at the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court (pictured above) on 7 August, but will reappear on 12 September after being released on warning, according to a court official. PHOTO: Liam Voorma