St Francis cops bring yesterday’s beach robbers to book

St Francis Bay police have brought alleged criminals who robbed a tourist to book.

And the robbers appeared to have been celebrating at the time of their arrest.

According to a media release received from SAP Uitenhage Communciations, a 31-year-old Irish woman and her mother decided yesterday (Tuesday, 14 February 2012) to spend the day at the beach in St Francis Bay.  At about 1 pm the mother decided to take a walk along the beach, while her daughter decided to enjoy the Africa sun.

The daughter went to sunbathe between the rocks.  It is alleged that two unknown men suddenly approached her and threatened her with knives.

The suspects tied her hands up and searched through her handbag.  They took cash, cellphone, jewellery, etc and fled on foot after threatening her again.

Soon after the incident the 31-year-old woman and her mother went to the St Francis Bay police station to report the case.

A very dedicated group of four police officials, under the leadership of W/O Edward Krauspe (who was working in the Community Service Centre at that time) decided to follow up on every possible lead that might lead them to the whereabouts of the suspects.  They worked throughout the night.

At about 11:15 pm last night they successfully traced two suspects,  in their mid 20s, and arrested them.  They recovered cash, a cellphone and jewellery.

The complainant (victim) commended the St Francis Bay Police members for the effective and efficient manner in which they handled and arrested the suspects.

“The members reflected courage, team spirit and determination throughout the search for the suspects,” the SAP release says.  Through their actions, they showed the community that they will walk the extra mile and that they will leave no stone unturned to find the suspects.  Well done to the members of St Francis Bay police station!”

The suspects will appear tomorrow, (Thursday, 16 February 2012) in the Humansdorp Magistrates’ court on a charge of robbery.

According to Calibre Security, one of that company’s day response officers saw two suspicious men walking towards the beach yesterday at 11.30 am.

“On hearing of the attack the officer passed the description of the men to one of our night response officers who thought he knew who it was,” says Lynn Edwards of Calibre Security. “They met the police in Tarragona and went on foot to the house of the suspect.

“They found the two men in the house drinking and recovered cash jewellery and a cell phone. They are repeat offenders.”

See also: http://stfrancischronicle.com/2012/02/14/news-flash-tourists-robbed-on-st-francis-beach-today/