Cape Town - When he’s not catching a train, Prasa regional manager Richard Walker is catching criminals.
Richard was this week single-handedly responsible for the arrest of five suspected robbers.
The regional manager of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA noticed a woman being robbed in front of his Muizenberg house by a knife-wielding man and sprang into action.
Richard said it all started on Tuesday just before 4pm when he heard a car come to a sudden halt outside his house in Dartmouth Street.
“I peaked through the bedroom window and saw three guys pull up next to a lady walking on the pavement, like they were asking for directions,” he said.
“I watched as one of them pulled out a massive knife and grabbed at her bag. She resisted a bit but he threatened her by raising the knife and he took her handbag.
“I screamed at them and headed outside. I told the shaken lady to wait and then I followed the white Toyota Tazz, without number plates, to the Pick n Pay shopping complex on Prince George Drive, where they headed into a liquor store."
He alerted law enforcement officers stationed at the complex and went with them into the bottle store to identify the thugs.
“The officials arrested them and I just grabbed and held onto the ones who wanted to run off,” Richard adds modestly.
“I drove home and took the lady to Muizenberg Police Station to lay a charge and the skelms (crooks) were also taken there,” he said.
“I am on leave right now, but I could not just let something like this happen and do nothing.”
City of Cape Town Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason commended Richard for his bravery.
He added: “The victim arrived and positively identified the suspects. The officers recovered the victim’s cellphone, cash and bag.
“They also confiscated a huge knife used to intimidate the victim.”
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirms a charge of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm is being investigated.
He said the suspects, three males, aged 27, 28 and 33, and two women, aged 28 and 30, are due to appear in court soon.