CrimeWatch report for Tuesday 3rd January 2012

This is very disturbing. The police need to deal with this group urgently. In the meantime it will be sensible to keep away from these areas late at night.

FROM: Vered Gartushka. Fish Hoek Victim Support.

I would like to bring to your attention a case involving an attacker wearing a car guard bib at Kalk Bay beach.

Last night (Dec 30), just before midnight, a visitor (Dieter Walbergh) was brutally attacked by 3 men. The victim had been drinking at the Melting pot (Muizenberg) and was on his way, on foot, to Fish Hoek where he is staying with friends. He decided to go down to the beach and clear his head. There he joined a group of people who promised him a lift to Fish Hoek. He lingered behind the group, when they were leaving, to collect his rug sack and stuff when a car guard approached him. They exchanged a few words about how great it is that the municipality is paying to guard the beach … when two other men came at him, one jumped on his back and the other pulled his pants down. The “car guard” had a knife which he handed to one of the others and said “Kill him”, then he demanded the pin to the cash card – which Dieter gave him. The man tried to slash the victim’s throat but Dieter fought them off and ran to the rocks where he hid.

They got all his stuff, including cash, cards and cell phone. This morning (Dec 31) someone handed in his ID book in at FH station.

Money was withdrawn from the account at 12:30 AM – about half an hour after the attack – at Capricorn centre. It is possible that the attackers had a vehicle. The “car guard” is a tall well built man (coloured) with a genial manner, the other two were slight of build – one possibly a foreign African, the other coloured.

I am bringing this to your attention because there have been several similar cases – involving a person with a car guard bib and wielding a knife - since October this year. A woman sitting at Napolina’s restaurant was robbed by a man with a knife, the case involving a chef (who also had a knife and stabbed the attacker) and according to Inspector Collins there have been several incidents of this nature, all happening after midnight.

The victim gave his statement at Fish Hoek but the case (281/12) is going to Muizenberg tomorrow morning.