PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A brazen robber walked into a Keurbooms home, threatened a woman and grabbed her purse before fleeing the scene on Saturday morning.

Keurbooms neighbourhood watch group chairman Freund Oberholzer said the woman was confronted by the suspect in her home. 

"He walked into her house, demanding money and cellphones. He threatened her by saying there was outside support waiting to help him, should she not comply. He then grabbed her purse and fled the scene," Oberholzer explained.

The victim alerted the Keurbooms neighbourhood watch group, which responded with assistance from other crime fighters including various Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) members. Kurland/Crags responders took up position on the escape routes leading to the N2.

It did not take long for the suspect to be tracked down. "He was quickly apprehended when he came through the gravel road onto the N2."

Oberholzer said with the help of the PBCPA's K9, the purse and other stolen goods were recovered. The suspect was handed over to police.

Oberholzer said it is of utmost importance for residents to become crime-wise, as "opportunists are always lurking around". "Previously employed people know your modus operandi at home, especially your vulnerable areas, routines and poor security habits."

In another unrelated incident, a stolen scooter was recovered as a result of vigilance by a local business. Staff at the off-road vehicle repair centre, Muddy Offroads, recognised a scooter that had been brought in for repairs, as one which had been reported stolen. 

They immediately sent out an alert, which led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the scooter.

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