What gave the guard away

2008-07-17 12:41

Melissa Douman

Pietermaritzburg - An ADT security guard implicated in a case of theft and kidnapping in the Bellvue area of Pietermaritzburg made one error in what could have been the perfect crime: he did not get rid of his gun.

The security guard cleverly orchestrated the crime so that he would appear to be a victim. He first befriended a Malawian housekeeper at the home he had targeted. On the day of the incident, he hooted outside the residence and asked his "friend" to come to his car.

The unsuspecting man was forced into the car and kidnapped.

The guard drove to the station, bought a train ticket and told the Malawian to leave town. He threatened to kill him if he did not.

House ransacked

When the train left, the security guard returned to ransack the unlocked house.

Though no other arrests have been made, it is believed that the man did not work alone.

Homeowner Sudeshan Moodley said: "At about 12:30 I received a call from ADT saying that my house had been broken into. The robbers came into the house and kidnapped my housekeeper.

"They only ransacked my bedroom. They stole ... my safe containing jewellery, two cameras and a watch.

"I spoke to a lawyer for advice on how to get reimbursed for the valuables that were taken and he said that if I have insurance they will cover it and they can then sue ADT. I would only have been able to (sue ADT) if I was not insured," he said.

Police became suspicious

After the crime, the ADT guard radioed ADT for help and was found near Mkondeni in handcuffs. Police became suspicious when they noticed that he still had a gun.

"These days, hard cash and guns are like gold to robbers; there is no way that they would not have taken the gun," said Moodley.

The ADT security guard was taken in for questioning, but refused to say anything.

Meanwhile, the housekeeper left the train station and returned to the Moodleys' house, spilling the beans on what had happened.

Police spokesperson Inspector Joey Jeevan said further arrests are imminent.

ADT spokesperson Emma Durk said she was unable to comment on Wednesday, but would do so at a later stage.

- The Witness