40-year-old son loots home of terminally ill mother

VERULAM – A 40-year-old man who looted his terminally ill mother’s home was arrested by members of Reaction Unit South Africa & Detectives from the Verulam SAPS yesterday morning.

The suspect is an alcoholic and suspected drug user. His 76-year-old mother was admitted to hospital earlier this month (November 2023) after being diagnosed with cancer. In her absence, her son sold her Samsung refrigerator, Sinotec TV and OVHD decoder.

Since her discharge from a medical facility, the terminally ill woman was harassed and verbally abused by her son demanding cash to purchase alcohol. He continued looting her home and sold the stolen property to residents in the area. The elderly female registered a criminal case at the Verulam SAPS but her son has since evaded arrest.

Yesterday morning (Thursday), Reaction Officers and SAPS Officials received information that the man was once again at his mother’s home. She refused to allow him into the house. He then began verbally abusing her.

Law Enforcement Officers responding to the property spotted the suspect walking along Ocean Wave Lane in Trenance Park. He was immediately apprehended. During an interview, he confirmed that he sold his mother’s valuables and purchased alcohol with the proceeds of the sale.

He led First Responders to a home on Ocean Crest Drive where a Samsung fridge was recovered. Officers thereafter proceeded to Willow Crescent where a Sinotec TV and OVHD decoder were located. The suspect was detained at SAPS Verulam.