Slippery robber accosts two separate Pinetown residents

Two separate Pinetown residents were accosted by the same slippery robber within hours of one another today.
An intruder who initially appeared friendly to his victim ambushed and robbed her of her cellphone and purse on a property in Farningham Ridge earlier this afternoon.
It is believed that the same suspect then went on to rob a second victim who was asleep in his home in Hatton Estate.
Blue Security community and media liaison officer Andreas Mathios said the woman had arrived at the property in Underwood Road and parked her vehicle when she was accosted by the suspect. The incident occurred at around 1pm.
“The motorist parked her vehicle and walked around to the back to get her baby out of the car. She happened to look up and notice the suspect walking towards her with a non-threatening, friendly disposition and she assumed that he probably worked on the property,” Mathios said.
“But the suspect approached her and grabbed her by the neck. She threw her phone and purse away from herself and the suspect then grabbed them and fled, jumping over the main gate to make his escape towards a nearby river,” Mathios said.
Mathios said the same suspect then allegedly went onto a property in Lesley Drive in Hatton Estate, where he walked into a garden cottage. “The victim was at home sleeping when he was awoken by an intruder inside his garden cottage. A scuffle broke out and the suspect grabbed the victim’s cellphone and wallet and fled the scene, again in the direction of the river, before jumping into a taxi. The victim later managed to find his phone near the fence of his property where the suspect dropped it as he fled.”
The SAPS K9 unit, Pinetown SAPS, Blue Security, Proforce Security and neighbourhood watch groups gave chase but the suspect managed to evade arrest.
Mathios advised residents to always ensure gates and doors are locked when at home during the day to prevent opportunistic criminals from gaining entry into the house. “If you are at home during the day, make sure that your external infrared beams are also switched on and that security gates and doors are locked. This will reduce the element of surprise that criminals rely on when targeting their victims and it will give you time to press your panic alarm and call for help,” Mathios said.