A flat tyre led to the arrest of a 22-year-old Dunoon man and the recovery of thousands of rand worth of tools, say police.
According to Warrant Officer Jacques Mostert, of Bothasig police, two officers, Constable Marc Jaftha and Warrant Officer Luan Stears, had stopped on Plattekloof Road, close to the N7, to help a motorist with a flat tyre when they noticed two men with bags watching them from behind some trees.
The men started walking towards the N7 but kept to bushes next to a roadside vibracrete wall.
Finding this behaviour suspicious, the officers investigated, but as they drew near to the men, one threw down his bag and ran into Bothasig.
The other ran into a construction site next to the N7.
The officers asked Craig Clacher, from Richwood Neighbourhood Watch, to monitor the area and the N7 from Richwood’s side, while they continued on foot, hoping to catch the man who was still carrying a bag.
Constable Jaftha spotted him running towards the N7, and, after giving chase, caught him on the northern side of the N7.
Both bags had about R5 000 worth of tools and power tools in them.
Later a Bothasig man arrived at the police station to report his tools had been stolen from his vehicle in his driveway.
“He was pleasantly surprised to find that his property had already been recovered and a suspect arrested for the theft,” said Warrant Officer Mostert.
Bothasig station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Jacobs, warned the public not to leave valuables in their cars.
