BLOEMFONTEIN – Convicted serial burglar George Maxwell Dundee (60), with a 40-year crime spree, faces more charges in pending cases ongoing in court. He is serving a 20-year prison term following sentencing by the Bloemfontein Regional Court on 21 August. Dundee’s sentencing on those finalised cases was the culmination of relentless investigative efforts by the Free State Forensic Investigative Lead Unit (FILU).
According to the police in-depth investigations uncovered the burglar’s life of crime dates as far back as 1980. He said extensive docket on Dundee’s burglary spree was investigated by Sgt. Mxolisi Tshona of the Free State FILU.
Through meticulous forensic analysis, Dundee was linked via DNA and fingerprint evidence to more than 20 additional open cases across Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and Galeshewe.
Pending cases include housebreaking, burglary, theft, possession of stolen property, defeating the ends of justice, and attempted murder.
Investigations linked Dundee to these burglaries:
22 December 2021: Dundee was linked to an incident in which a family returned from vacation to find a broken window at their home, though no items were successfully removed.
2 January 2022: While a family was away on vacation in the Eastern Cape, their Bayswater home was broken into, with electronic appliances and their Haval motor vehicle stolen. On 2 January 2022, alert Petrusburg police officers spotted and intercepted the stolen Haval.
23 March 2023: A Parkweg resident returned from work in the afternoon to find his house burgled and electrical appliances stolen. Experts of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) processed fingerprint evidence at the scene, positively linking Dundee to the crime. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for this case.
8 August 2023: A homeowner and his son departed for Cape Town, only to be informed by a friend shortly after that their residence had been broken into.
Another serial burglar Roysten “Billy” Collins (33) was in July sentenced to 15 years in prison for his burglary spree, adding to a 30-year sentence handed down earlier. He also has numerous pending cases. Investigations revealed he operated predominantly in suburbs including Brandwag, Universitas and Westdene, targeting university students residing in student accommodation and communes.
Also read: Habitual burglar already serving a prison sentence has term extended to 30 years
