Knife-wielding robber sentenced to seven years for cellphone theft

A 23-YEAR-OLD man, Allesandro Swanepoel, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Kimberley Regional Court for stealing a cellphone in Millia Street, Roodepan, last year.

SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the incident occurred on March 14, 2024, when Swanepoel entered the victim’s yard armed with a knife.

“He stole the cellphone and hastily ran out of the yard. The police were informed. The suspect was known to the victim and he was subsequently arrested,” said Sam.

Swanepoel was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to seven years of direct imprisonment. His sentence will run concurrently with a separate 15-year sentence he is already serving for an unrelated matter.

The district commissioner of Frances Baard, Major-General Gabathata Makgari, commended the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mojalefa Setlai, for his thorough investigation and efforts to bring perpetrators of property crimes to justice.