After a suspect allegedly tried to break into a specific resident’s house in Florida Park for the fourth time, the resident helped trap him for arrest on Wednesday 18 September.
Throughout September resident Phillip van Niekerk was being harassed through recurring attempts of housebreaking by three suspects.
“They’ve been on my property on four separate occasions in the past few weeks, and I’ve had enough.”
Van Niekerk told the Record that his wife called him on numerous occasions to tell him that there are people in their yard.
Van Niekerk, who works for A1 Assist (Help 24) had to leave work every time to drive home in an attempt to catch them in the act.
“This time I was fortunate enough to catch them on my property, but the one suspect jumped in the vehicle and sped off.
“I gave chase and spent around 40 minutes following him around Florida, finally catching up with him in front of the Uniflora Hotel on Shamrock Street.”
It was at this point where the Florida police subsequently arrested the 36-year-old suspect, who Van Niekerk alleges is out on bail for previous charges.
Van Niekerk is relieved to have caught the main suspect, but alleges that two other suspects were working with him on every attempted robbery.
Florida SAPS spokesperson Captain Lydia Mtila-Dikolomela cannot confirm his previous arrest.
“As far as I have it, we haven’t profiled him yet.
“The suspect was arrest in front of the hotel and Florida SAPS has opened a case of housebreaking against him,” says the Captain.
