BLOEMFONTEIN – A habitual burglar, Roysten “Billy” Collins (33), who was already serving a lengthy prison sentence, has had his stay extended to 30 years after being sentenced to an additional 15 years by the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court. Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the Free State police, confirmed Collins’s additional sentence yesterday. He said Collins was initially sentenced last year for his spate of burglaries at private homes and businesses, as well as thefts from motor vehicles.
Kareli said Collins had been linked to multiple pending cases under investigation in Bloemfontein. He added that the latest sentencing was the culmination of an in-depth investigation by Warrant Officer Jacob Kotoane, who is attached to the Provincial Forensic Investigative Leads Unit (FILU). He said the officer worked closely with senior prosecutors.
“A significant breakthrough was achieved when the FILU took over the investigations. Through advanced forensic techniques, the team positively linked Collins to more than nine cases through DNA profiling. Comprehensive forensic evidence was compiled by the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), including fingerprint reports, photo albums and expert statements, all of which conclusively pointed to Collins,” Kareli said. He said the investigation revealed that Collins’s criminal activities dated back to 2017 and that he was a regular perpetrator of housebreakings, business burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles.
“He operated predominantly in suburbs including Brandwag, Universitas and Westdene, targeting university students residing in student accommodation and communes. He typically targeted high-value electronics such as laptops and cellphones and, in some instances, stole his victims’ clothing,” Kareli said. He said the probe established that Collins was already incarcerated at Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein, serving a 15-year sentence after being sentenced last year.
“Collins was subsequently subpoenaed in prison to face the newly consolidated charges,” Kareli said. He said the investigative team had established that Collins was linked to more than seven outstanding cases.
“This does not include additional dockets from other stations that are still being centralised and brought to the attention of the investigating officer,” Kareli said.
