Skollies bust

Good news, the skollies that have been terrorising the Millers car park and other beachfront area's stealing cars and breaking into them have been bust. All thanks to the eagle-eye of Werner Hills, photographer for Die Burger, and a local surfer.

Werner had had his own close call with some skelms a week ago when he'd spotted them hanging about the car park looking dodgy. Sitting in the surf he saw the cop van zooming the wrong way down the Millers road so he made a sprint paddle for the beach expecting the worst.

Luckily his earlier stink eye to the ou's had worked - cos they'd stolen the car next to his. Not his one. But ever since the close encounter he's been keen to try nab the mullets.

© Gavin Rother

Fast forward to yesterday. I'd tuned Werner about some exotic cars down at the Hobie Carpark that Gavin had snapped a shot of, and said to him he might wanna cruise down for some shots. He didn't make it down, but decided to drive down yesterday in case they were still about.

They weren't, so in good surfer style he carried on down Beach Road in order to go check the surf. As he drove past the Millers car park he noticed two ou's just hanging on the deck and something about it just looked suspicious. So he pulled a U'y at the Marine Hotel drove back into the Millers car park, and parked there to have a look.

Two ou's were on the deck and one dude was standing next to a car. When Werner walked past the car he noticed it was definitely a surf car cos there were wetsuits in it. So definitely weird that this dude who definitely wasn't a surfer was hanging next to it.

Werner walked up onto the deck where the other 2 dudes were standing and said something just felt sketchy about the whole vibe.

So he went back to his car and drove out the car park, and back around on Marine Drive, stopping in one of the side streets which look onto the MIllers car park. Sitting there sussing the guys out he noticed that the one dude on the deck always raised his arms as if he was yawning and stretching up whenever someone was going to walk past.

​Yah - these ou's were up to skolli-ness.

Werner remembered seeing 2 Metro cops on point duty at the entrance to the Boardwalk, so he cranked his cabbie into gear and gunned it down to the Boardwalk and tuned the cops to come cos some muppets were about to steal a car.

Cops were on it in a flash, and as they screeched into the car park they caught the ou at the back of the car - locks popped, ignition punched out and ready to steal. They got the 2 ou's and cuffed em, but the 3rd dude who'd been on the deck made a bolt and got away.

I was sitting out in the surf with Jay Beaufort and his mates at the time, and next thing we see Werner sprinting down the beach towards a mate of Jay's who'd just got out the water and was sitting on the sand waiting for em.

Next thing both of them are bolting back to the car park. I turned to Jay and said - "Arg, looks like they've bust into another car" And he's like - "Ah, that ou's with me - so that must be my car!" and with that took a quick paddle in to go and investigate.

The cops found a phone stolen from Jay's car in the crooks white golf, as well as the tools used to steal cars in their possession. Seems like they'll be charged with theft from a vehicle as opposed to attempted theft of the vehicle - even though they'd already popped the ignition, but at least it's something, and will hopefully discourage the skelms from hanging about there for a while.

Moral of the story is if you see something that looks suspicious, hang about and watch a while, and then do something if your suspicions prove correct. Pop the Humewood police station number into your phone. Too easy. 041-5045000

Everyone owes Werner a set wave when next they have a surf with him, cos he's the first guy to catch some of these critters and the arrests will hopefully keep the car parks safe for a while.
So yah - you most certainly give him a wave! He's the dude riding the bright red Vetkoek board.

All images Wener Hills 

Cheers Charlie

The skollies car

Jay's car safe & sound, just minus an ignition key & 2 bust locks. Better than being stolen though!