This dom dief made a bad call when he tried to sell a stolen cellphone back to its owner.
And his number was up when he was caught in a trap set by the female victim, a security company and police.
The woman, 36, had been walking between Okavango and Hexrivier roads, Kraaifontein, on Friday night when she has mugged at knife-point.
The robber made off with her Huawei phone, valued at R5000.
She called her number on Monday morning and, to her surprise, the skelm answered.
Gordon Landry from Landry Securitas explains: “On Monday at 11am, the victim phoned her number and the thief answered her phone and wanted to re-sell her phone back.
“The victim was surprised and contacted us for safety measures.
“The robber told the victim he wanted R500 from her to get her phone back and that he would meet her in the bushes near Buhrein Estate in Kraaifontein.
“The victim told the robber she only had R300 to give to him (and he accepted the offer).
“We set up a safety plan with CPU [Crime Prevention Unit] and the police.”
But instead of the skelm, a woman approached the victim with the cellphone.
“A female approached our client at the meeting point, and found the client's cellphone and sim card in her possession.
Gordon adds: “Big applause for Sergeant Cindy Arendse and her partner, who were on the scene in minutes.
“The robber was waiting a few metres back in the bush and was apprehended by Kraaifontein cops.
“The victim positively identified the man who robbed her on Friday night.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirms: “A 33-year-old man was arrested and he is facing charges of robbery aggravated and assault after he robbed a 36-year-old woman of a cellular phone on Friday.
“He is due to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court (today).”