A wanted cell phone thief has been arrested. The suspect offered victims a lift in uMhlanga and then robbed them of their phones. Tyrone Powell of Marshall Security, Tyrone Powell said that the emergency dispatch centre was alerted to a theft in the uMhlanga area where a suspect driving a white VW Golf 7 stole a cell phone from a woman who he had offered a lift to.
Said Powell: “Details of the suspect’s description and the wanted vehicle were circulated to all our armed response and special operations team officers to be on the lookout. “Later that afternoon at about 3.45pm 15h45 the same VW Golf was spotted traveling on Umhlanga Rocks Drive. Our team members immediately started to follow the wanted vehicle and managed to bring the vehicle to a stop on M4 South on-ramp from Lighthouse Road. After determining that the suspect matched the same clothing description as the suspect wanted for the theft case earlier in the morning, he was immediately arrested,” said Powell.
Powell said that when the suspect was searched two cellphones were found on him. “One of the cellphones the suspect could not account for. It was later established that the cellphone was stolen a few minutes prior to our members arresting the suspect.
“The victim was informed accordingly and proceeded to open case at the Durban North SAPS. The suspect, the vehicle used in the commission of crime as well as the stolen phone was handed over to the Durban North SAPS for further investigation and processing. The suspect is believed to be involved in numerous cases of theft in the uMhlanga area using the same modus operandi. We urge the public to please report any form of crime to the SAPS and to please be cautious in terms of being offered lifts from strangers,” said Powell.
