A brave vehicle body shop manager was determined to get a
client’s vehicle back after it was stolen outside their premises on
Friday morning, 30 April in Kempston Road, Sidwell.
According to Col. Priscilla Naidu, police spokesperson, the drama unfolded at about 07:30 when the suspect (36) entered
the body shop, holding a hockey stick in his hand.
“He was approached by the
supervisor and the workshop manager as no one was allowed in the workshop. The
suspect became arrogant and abusive and was chased off the premises,” Naidu said.
At the
same time a client arrived to pick up his white Toyota Fortuner and was
inspecting his vehicle outside. The supervisor went with him to his vehicle.
“The suspect came back, armed this time with a firearm. He went into the office
and took all the clients’ keys. He searched through them until he found the
Fortuner’s keys. He jumped into the vehicle and drove off.”
The body shop manager got into his vehicle and chased after the
suspect. He followed the vehicle to Bridegmead.
“By this time, all police
vehicles were alerted and assisted in the chase. The K9 unit members managed to stop the vehicle in Clarkson Street in Bridgemead. The suspect
was arrested and it was later established that the firearm was a toy gun. The
keys and the hockey stick were found in the vehicle.”
He is detained on charges of business robbery and theft of a motor
vehicle. He will appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 3 May.
