Independent Newspapers
Two thieves who broke into a Durban North townhouse, and were caught after they got drunk and fell asleep in their victims home. File Photo: Ross Jansen
Durban – Two thieves who broke into a Durban North townhouse this week were caught after they got drunk and fell asleep in their victim’s home.
While they almost got away with the robbery, a vigilant neighbour had seen them and had already called the police.
On Thursday, Donald Williams, owner of the house that was ransacked in Chartwell Drive, said they had drunk beer, whisky, vodka and energy drinks before passing out.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident and said the Durban North police had charged the men with housebreaking.
Williams said he suspected the pair, in their early twenties, had watched him leave for work before they broke in.
A police officer said they had loaded up clothes, takkies, laptops and other electronic items and were about to leave when one of them saw the booze.
They had even opened the fridge and had a snack, the police said.
They fell asleep but eventually woke up and resumed their packing. When they left the house residents were ready for them and gave chase.
They jumped over a fence to escape, but by then the police and security companies were also involved.
They were eventually cornered and one of them still had a bottle of whisky in his hand.
Zwane said they were still drunk and stank of alcohol.
Williams, who rushed home, said he was shocked at the state of his house.
“My bed was full of food. I did not make the bed because I was rushing to work and I am not even sure if they hadn’t slept in it as well,” he said.
He thanked the police and residents for their quick response.
* In a separate incident, the police are searching for a gang that robbed the Earthmother Organic eShop and restaurant in Glenwood on Wednesday.
Zwane said they took a waiter’s wallet and watch, and an undisclosed sum of cash from the till, and pistol-whipped the waiter.
They also robbed customers of three laptops, their cellphones, cash and bank cards, as well as the keys to a car they used to escape in.
The police found the vehicle crashed in Cato Crest.
The Mercury
