Criminals gear up for Christmas

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Johannesburg - Barely 24 hours after an East Rand girl was murdered, a varsity student in Malanshof was attacked while studying in her cottage.

The student, who could not speak to the Saturday Star on Friday because she was too shaken, is believed to have been studying at 3.45am for her exams when an intruder broke her cottage door down and attacked her.

She apparently fought back and screamed.

The incident took place at the corner of River Road and Silver Pine Avenue in the suburb near Sunrise.

According to John Dott of the Linden community policing forum, a resident from a nearby complex heard the screams and called the police who arrived within four minutes.

Dott said the suspect had two jackets which were discarded during the scuffle with the girl.

“The girl grabbed his shirt and jackets during the fight and he left them behind as he ran off. She is one brave lady,” Dott said.

Dott said the owner of the house claimed he had not seen the suspect who gained access to the property by climbing over a wall.

The girl had minor injuries to her finger and foot.

The attacker has yet to be arrested.

Police spokesman Constable Mpho Makashane was unable to confirm the incident at the time of going to print.

Dott, who was also a victim of crime two years ago, said a host of other criminal activities took place in the suburb.

He said in one instance perpetrators broke a security gate and the front door of a property. They ripped a flat screen TV off the wall before the alarm could go off.

He said the suspects could be responsible for other crimes as two cars were used in all the incidents. “It could be a silver Corsa with three males and a black Golf with [a] male. They were seen at a similar incident in a boomed off area two weeks ago. This two car-method has become a smart modus operandi as the security company usually sends one car. Security guards can’t follow two cars at once,” he said.

Andre Snyman of eBlockwatch said it now gave its members various gadgets to protect themselves. “Forewarned is forearmed, especially at this time of the year.”

Meanwhile, police have begun a manhunt for the three men who murdered matric student Minke Aucamp, 18. Aucamp was approached by three men in her driveway at her Eastvale home in Springs on Thursday morning.

It was not clear by Friday night if her car, a Hyundai Atos, had been recovered.

Saturday Star