The Reiger Park police arrested the trio and recovered R10 000 worth of stolen goods after a routine traffic stop turned into a chase, on Wednesday, August 14.
The alleged burglars, who were travelling in a black Corsa, broke into a house along Jubilee Street and made off with five remote controls and a 47-inch big-screen plasma television valued at R10 000.
An alarm at the house went off and alerted Lectronic Security company to the crime at about 9.30am.
The security company’s reaction team arrived on the scene to find the gate and door open. The police as well as the owner of the house, who was at work at the time of the break-in, were alerted.
A CPF member spotted the suspicious vehicle in the area and gave chase, but for the time-being, the robbers managed to escape.
Unbeknown to the suspects, they drove towards police officers who were manning a roadblock along Wit Deep Road.
The thieves made a U-turn to avoid the police checkpoint, but their actions were spotted by police officers Const Makwaene Mongwe and Const Mateka Ledwaba.
The thieves tried to flee once again, but were caught by the police on Main Reef Road.
Realising their escape had come to an end, one of the thieves tried to bribe the officers with R130.
The trio will appear in court on possession of stolen goods and bribery charges.
No weapons were found.
The black Corsa used by the thieves was impounded.
The stolen loot was returned to the rightful owner who praised the police officers for their actions.
Homeowner Vivian Pretorius said: “I’d like to pass my sincere thanks to the police officers, CPF members and the many members of the community who helped us to recover our goods.
“It’s great news that the TV has been found within few minutes. I’m really happy to have it back where it belongs.”
Pretorius added that the burglary was just the latest ordeal they’ve had to endure while living in fear of crime.
Thieves forced their way into his yard a month ago and stole a car stereo and speakers from his daughter’s car.
Pretorius’ vehicle – a Toyota Camry and his wife’s Toyota Corolla were also stolen in separate incidents a few years ago.
Pretorius’s vehicle was recovered in Komatipoort, while his wife’s vehicle was recovered from a car dealer along Trichardts Road, selling for R39 000.
“We always live in fear of what is going to happen next,” says Pretorius’ wife, Beverley.
“It seems as if we are the soft targets for criminals, perhaps we should go and take a bath in the sea to cleanse our bad luck.”
According to a police report, property crime including hijacking, house robbery, house break-in and theft remain rampant in Boksburg.
