'Robber' pleased to see cops

2003-01-06 11:08

Cape Town - Police rescued a suspected robber from a mob who had caught him and were beating him in Nomzamo informal settlement in the Strand on Sunday, police said on Monday.

Herman Ras said the suspect "couldn't wait to be arrested" when police arrived as he was being "beaten to a pulp".

"When the police van arrived, the suspect ran to it and jumped in," he said.

Also in the Strand, a security guard was arrested by fellow guards after he allegedly stole a bumper from a used car lot on Sunday.

Ras said the owner of the Potgieter Street lot carried out a routine check of his premises and saw the guard removing the bumper.

He contacted the security company contracted to guard the premises and the man was arrested. He is being held in custody in Strand police cells and will appear in court soon.

The body of an unidentified man was found on Saturday in Broadlands Street in the Strand. He had been battered to death, apparently with a brick.

Ras warned the public to be on the alert when walking to work in Broadlands Street. He said the area was notorious for assaults and robbery.

Ras said 11 people had been arrested for being in possession of stolen items during the past week in the Strand area and he appealed to people not to leave valuables in their cars.

- SAPA