Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - One of the people arrested for the robbery at a Klerksdorp businessman’s home in Meiringspark last week is a former girlfriend of the businessman’s son.
The woman, Gloria Gadinabokao (36) and a man, Thuso Mokwane (34) appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court this week. They were expected to apply for bail on Wednesday November 1.
Vigilant police officers on patrol in the early hours of Thursday October 26 was crucial in bringing the suspects to book when they noticed a white Mercedes Benz and a silver VW T-Rock parked next to the N12 in Joubert Street, Freemanville. At that time, they did not know about the house robbery yet but considered the vehicles suspicious.
“They requested back-up and upon approaching the vehicles, noticed someone running away. While questioning the male and female sitting inside the Volkswagen, a radio message was received for the police to be on the look-out for a Mercedes Benz vehicle that was stolen during a house robbery. The members realised that the Mercedes Benz matched the description given of the stolen car and arrested the duo. Inside the vehicle, the police found money and cellular phones, believed to have been robbed during the house robbery,” Colonel Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, said.
In the meantime, SAPS were called to the scene of the house robbery in Pekan Street where the victim, Andrew Peterson managed to escape from his home where robbers held him and his family captive.
Peterson alerted his neighbours who called the police after he escaped by climbing through a window. Col Myburgh said the Peterson family was asleep when their daughter (27) was woken by two armed suspects, both wearing balaclavas.
“They demanded money. A third suspect joined the pair and they took her to her parent’s room where all of them were tied up. The robbers searched through the house and took the victims’ cellphones, cash and laptops.’’
The suspects fled the scene in the family’s white Mercedes Benz when they realised the father escaped.
Peterson, owner of Mamokomane Funeral Parlour, said he managed to untie himself. He sustained minor injuries to his shoulder and leg climbing through the window to get help.
The Provincial Police Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated Visible Policing members for their attentiveness and diligence in making sure that criminals such as these ones are put behind bars.
The bail application was still ongoing at the time of going to press.
