Dumb robber leaves own car

2010-02-28 23:05

Joané van der Merwe

Port Elizabeth - Police here are tracking what might just be the most dim-witted criminal in South Africa.

The suspected thief got such a fright on Friday afternoon when he realised people were watching as he and his mates were breaking into a house in broad daylight, that he left his car - with the keys still in the ignition - in front of the house and fled on foot.

The police say the Ford Fiesta belongs to the man who ran away... and they expect to have him in custody soon.

Two of his mates were arrested after the burglary which took place at about 13:00.

Residents of Windermere Street in Humewood saw three men knocking on the front doors of several houses. At one of the houses, the one man opened his white Ford Fiesta's doors and started putting the seats down.

"As if he was planning to load something into the car," said Precious Timla, police spokesperson.

"Something must have scared them, because the next minute, all three ran away and the police were called.

"I think they must have realised people were watching them."

According to Timla, goods valued at about R50 000 were found at the front door of the one house, ready to be loaded.

"Witnesses described two of the men and they were subsequently arrested by the Humewood crime prevention unit."

And now the police are just waiting for the Fiesta owner to come and claim his handcuffs.

- Die Burger