Man arrested after holding family hostage

A 28-year-old man was arrested for house robbery in Oranjezicht.

Cape Town Central Police officer Captain Paul Manuel, said a couple and their daughter were held hostage by three armed men on Monday November 4.

“The daughter was in her room talking to her boyfriend in the UK when the men walked in. They pointed a firearm at her and told her to put down the phone. She put the phone down but didn’t end the call,” said Captain Manuel.

He said at that point one man took her phone and dragged her to her mother in the study room and they all went to the lounge where the father was.

“They told them to co-operate and tied all three of them up and gagged them,” said Captain Manuel.

He said the boyfriend in the UK had notified a family member in the country.

“We got a call and it was very confusing all we could hear was something about a boyfriend, firearm and possibly a hostage situation,” Captain Manuel said.

He said on the way to the scene, they didn’t know whether it was a domestic violence matter, hostage situation or the boyfriend with a gun.

He said they managed to arrest the one suspect who was left to look after the victims while the other two ransacked the house upstairs. The two fled the scene and no firearms were recovered.

Captain Manuel said the father was hit over the head with a gun a few times and sustained a few cuts.

“I think the protective instinct kicked in but the family did what they had to do to survive,” he said.

The suspect arrested will remain in custody at Cape Town Central police cells until his first court appearance where police will oppose bail.

Cape Town Central police arrested two men for theft after a car chase on Monday November 11.

Cape Town Central spokesperson, Captain Ezra October, said an officer patrolling the area witnessed a man snatch a cellphone from another man waiting for a taxi cab on the corner of Bree and Strand streets.

The officer gave chase and in an attempt to escape the officer, the suspected robbers recklessly drove down Buitengracht Street towards Tamboerskloof, en route to Camps Bay.

“The officer requested assistance from an ADT officer on patrol and after giving him the description and registration number of the suspects, they were able to request backup. It wasn’t long before the Camps Bay watch officers cornered the men.”

Both men were arrested, and will be charged with theft.

On Friday November 8, a man was arrested for theft by police patrolling in Camp Road, Oranjezicht.

The police received information about a man walking in Camp Street who was wanted for stealing CCTV cameras from homes, said Captain October.

The officers followed up the information and spotted the man, searched him and found tools, a wheel spanner and vehicle lock nuts, in his possession.

He was arrested for possession of stolen property and police will proceed with further investigations regarding video footage obtained and follow up information regarding the theft of CCTV cameras.

Anyone with information can contact Cape Town Central’s detective office at 021 467 8039.

On Friday November 9, three pupils were arrested for robbery with a knife and possession of dagga in Military Road, Bo-Kaap.

The complainant was walking with a group of 10 people coming from the scout’s camp at Signal Hill Road when they passed the three pupils. On their way back, the complainant gave them a bottle of water.

The pupils stood up and proceeded walking past the hiking group and at about 30 metres ahead, when they got to a junction, the pupils pretended to look at the view and suddenly drew a knife and robbed them of their personal belongings, including a rucksack, cash, wrist watch and ran away towards the scouts camp.

One of the female hikers screamed and the rangers heard them and came to their assistance. They alerted the police and gave chase and managed to arrest the pupils behind Vista High School.

The victims sustained no injuries, the knife was recovered and all the belongings were handed over to the hikers. Police also confiscated 13 stoppe dagga found in possession of one of the pupils.

On Friday November 8, police arrested a man in Kloof Street after he smashed the window at McDonalds at the top of Long Street.

Captain October said the man went to the eatery at 5am and demanded the store be opened for him.

When the security guard explained that the store was closed, he became aggressive and smashed the door with a metal object, and assaulted the security guard.

The police were notified and the man was arrested.

On Wednesday November 6, three men were arrested at the Kraal in Bo-Kaap for common and aggravated robbery after police received a tip-off regarding the hiding place and the whereabouts of suspected robbers inside the Kraal.

The men were identified at a later stage by the complainant and were arrested.