Two grannies fight off thief in Claremont

Two grannies fought off a thief who robbed them in Claremont last Thursday, June 27.

The incident happened around 1.15pm, when Kenilworth resident Wendy Kalis, 74, was dropping off Rosemarie de Villiers, 90, at her Claremont home in Cook Road after attending a church function.

While sitting in the car, Ms Kalis noticed a man lurking in the background.

Ms De Villiers recalled it being a hot day so she had her car window rolled down halfway. Ms Kalis says she saw the man who dressed casually in a red pants and white T-shirt walking slowly past the passenger side of the vehicle with a newspaper in his hand.

“He threw the newspaper in the car and at the same time tried to grab Rosemarie’s bag,” says Ms Kalis.

Ms De Villiers says she was holding on to her bag tightly. “He kept on saying I won’t hurt you and I punched him hard on his hand and he let go and he then instantly grabbed Wendy’s phone in the middle console of the car,” says Ms De Villiers.

Ms Kalis says she reacted so fast. “I was thinking oh no, my phone is my life, it has my photos and all my information on it and I managed to start the car and we were in pursuit of the thief,” she says.

Ms Kalis says they managed to chase the thief down Cook Road towards the neighbouring Columbus Road.

“I was hooting and flashing my lights and alerted another resident in the street that my phone was stolen by that man,” she says.

Ms Kalis says they eventually cornered the thief near Columbus Road. “At one stage, it looked like he was going to give my phone back, he put his hand up with the phone in his hand and approached the car, and as I lowered my window, he tried to grab my keys, though the keys twisted while it was in the ignition,” she says.

Ms De Villiers says the man that stays in the road assisted in trying to get Ms Kalis’ phone back. She says the thief dropped the phone which was retrieved by the resident.

Ms De Villiers says the thief managed to run towards the end of Cook Road towards the Western Province Cricket Club field across Keurboom Road.

She says another woman who stays in the road put an alert on the street WhatsApp group who alerted Har-Lyn Neighbourwood Watch who then informed the private security in the area.

Har-Lyn Neighbourhood Watch member, Elmarie Raubenheimer says she received the response from the WhatsApp group that a resident got mugged. “I grabbed my walkie talkie and got in touch with private security who was in the area,” she says.

Ms Kalis says they were informed that the thief was apprehended by private security at the Western Province Cricket Club field.

Claremont police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Marnus Fourie confirmed that private security apprehended a 42-year-old man who took a phone by force from a 74-year-old woman sitting in her car in Claremont. “She alerted bystanders who gave chase, private security were also informed and the male was apprehended and taken to Claremont police for detention,” he says.

Lieutenant Colonel Fourie says the man appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 1 on a charge of common robbery.

Ms De Villiers says she struggled to sleep later that evening. “I thank God for giving us the strength and keeping us safe.”

Ms Kalis says she felt slightly shaken. “This could have easily gone a different way, he could have had a weapon,” she says.

This experience has made the women more aware of their surroundings. Ms Kalis says she would normally talk to Ms De Villiers in the car when she drops her off but now she will just drop her at home and leave immediately.

Ms De Villiers says this a warning that there can be people trying to commit opportunistic crimes in the area.

Both women say they are grateful to the community, Har-lyn Neighbourhood watch and private security for helping them.