The Western Cape's police chief became a crime statistic yesterday when his house was burgled - but the police's response to the crime was rather more impressive than ordinary South Africans can expect.
"I counted 20 police vehicles here this morning," a neighbour said.
Provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer and his family were sleeping when burglars broke into their Panorama, Cape Town, house at about 4am.
"We became aware of it when we woke up and noticed that some of our electronic equipment was missing," he said. "I just thank God no one was hurt."
By mid-morning a large police forensics team was still on the scene.
Police spokesman Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the robbers gained entry by removing a window.
"They took a number of items, including electronic equipment," Potelwa said.
The Parow police said meat, a television set and a computer were stolen.
Lamoer was in the spotlight last year when national police commissioner Riah Phiyega was accused by members of the provincial crime intelligence unit of defeating the ends of justice by warning him that he was being investigated by the Hawks on corruption allegations.
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