Portland father's act of kindness turns into a nightmare

A Portland father's act of kindness turned terrifying when criminals hijacked his vehicle and stole his phone while he was repairing a leak at his local church. The community member narrowly escaped what could have been a far worse outcome.

Roy Marsh, another congregant and a security guard were fixing a leak at his church in Westridge, Mitchell's Plain when the incident occurred on Saturday around 9.30pm.

His wife Wendy told the Cape Argus' sister publication, the Daily Voice, that she had warned him to be safe because the area is quite dangerous, but that he insisted on going as there was no other person available to fix the leak.

She explained: “They were busy finishing up and standing outside the car then these guys came around the corner, searched them and popped guns. There were four guys and a getaway vehicle.

“They searched my husband, took his phone which was in the car and the other guy’s phone and wallet.

“His car was idling because he needed some light for where he was working and then they just got into the car and drove off.”

The men were unharmed, however Roy’s body was sore due to the shock.

Wendy said the gunman cocked their firearm in order to warn her husband not to retaliate.

“When he got home, I just listened and I was out of breath, because it could’ve been so much worse.”

Fortunately for Roy, he had the spare keys to the vehicle, which was later recovered after Wendy saw a post on a WhatsApp community group saying that the vehicle was abandoned in Montrose Park.

When they found the vehicle they saw that the spare tyre was stolen, along with his tools, oil, cellphone, and the backseat windows were rolled down.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the robbery: “Mitchells Plain police registered a theft of motor vehicle case for investigation. According to reports the victim’s vehicle was idling when unknown suspects got into the vehicle and drove off with the vehicle.

“The vehicle was later found abandoned by the complainant. The investigation into the matter is still ongoing.”

Wendy added that the hand of Jesus was over her husband: “I am grateful that he is alive and the other guys. He was at a good place, but at the wrong time. 

“I hope one day this doesn’t happen to these guys and experience the trauma that they put other people through.”

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Cape Argus