Naked thief meets his match

2004-10-28 23:25

Cindy Preller

Port Elizabeth - An alleged thief met his match on Thursday morning when security guards caught him without a stitch of clothing between a white bakkie and an electrified fence on the premises of Avis car rental in Walmer.

The 27-year-old man allegedly filled the tank of one of the rental vehicles, a Toyota Condor, from a petrol pump on the premises and then drove it up to the electronic gate.

Monty Montgomery of Atlas Security said, "The man - in a hurry to make his getaway shortly after midnight - accidentally activated a panic button in the hope that it would open the automated gate.

"Two of our staff were sent immediately because there had been a number of burglaries at the premises when about 30 cars were broken into and car radios stolen," he said.

The security guards immediately smelled a rat when they arrived at the premises.

Got dressed and made coffee

According to Montgomery the alleged thief apparently took off all his clothes to enable him to escape over the electrified fence.

"He told the guards he was employed there, but could not explain why he was naked.

"My staff decided to call the person who kept the key to the premises and also the police," Montgomery said.

The alleged thief then calmly switched on a kettle in the guardhouse on the site and dressed himself.

He made some coffee and also offered the security guards coffee, which they declined.

Later, when the Avis employee and police arrived, the man apparently tried to escape but was again caught on the site by the police dog unit.

The alleged thief, a naked white man, signed the petrol register as "Temba" after he had filled up the Condor.

'Naughty Taxi' notice

He also apparently changed the number plates of the Condor and taped white notices to the front and rear windows of the vehicle.

The front notice read: "This kombi is for Korsten" and the one on the back said, "Naughty Taxi".

Sergeant Tembi Gwe of the police confirmed the man was being held at Humewood police station on charges of housebreaking and motor vehicle theft.

He is due to appear in court on Monday

- Die Burger