Motorists dashed to the rescue of a robbery victim who was accosted, robbed and stabbed by two suspects wielding a screwdriver, leading to the arrest of a 17-year-old perpetrator, on Ambala Road, in Merebank, on Tuesday.
Wentworth SAPS communications officer, Captain MP Gumede said: “The 41-year-old woman was walking from Natraj Shopping Centre in Merebank, on Tuesday, at about 09:20 am, when she was accosted by two male suspects who came from behind her, pushed her and caused her to fall to the ground.
One suspect then pressed the victim’s right leg and stabbed her on the right foot with a screwdriver. Once she fell, the suspects robbed her of a Samsung cellphone and cash to the amount of R225, 00 from her pocket. Both suspects then fled the scene on foot.”
According to Cpt Gumede some of the motorists who were passing, noticed the victim being robbed by the suspects.
“The motorists assisted by chasing the two suspects and managed to apprehend one male suspect aged 17. The other suspect managed to get away.
The suspect who was apprehended was positively identified by the victim while the second suspect who fled had his face covered with a hat and the victim could not identify him,” added Cpt Gumede.
The teen suspect was detained at Wentworth SAPS for robbery and was to be charged with a scheduled court appearance.
“The victim sustained an open stab wound on right leg. The police in Wentworth would like to commend the community for the assistance they provided to the victim by effecting a citizen’s arrest and recovering the property belonging to the victim.
The victim was full of gratitude and applause for the motorists who rushed to her rescue,” said Cpt Gumede.
The station commander, Colonel SP Mtshali commended the motorists who apprehended the suspect and encouraged the community to work hand in hand with the police to prevent crime in the Merewent area.
