Mpumalanga A daring burglar, who broke into the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) offices in Mbombela (Nelspruit), has been found guilty of housebreaking and theft.
The Nelspruit District Court on Friday (16 September 2022) found 32-year-old Daniel Wagenaar guilty of seven counts of housebreaking and theft.
The accused broke into the DPCI – better known as the Hawks – offices on Van Rensburg Street in Mbombela on 6 March 2022 at about 19h00.
After the break-in, the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) visited the crime scene and lifted fingerprints for linkages.
As a result, Wagenaar was positively linked to the crime scene.
Earlier this year, the accused was scheduled to appear in court on two other housebreaking and theft charges, but he failed to do so.
The crimes were committed in Mbombela between July 2019 and December 2021.
After the accused failed to show up in court a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Wagenaar was traced and arrested by the Hawks at his hiding place on 9 March 2022.
The accused remained in custody until his conviction on Friday.
Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said Wagenaar will be sentenced next month, on 14 October 2022.
