[imagesource: Science Photo Libray]

There’s nothing like an unsolved high-profile case to pique the public’s interest.

In some cases, the people who pulled off the crimes become cult figures and are celebrated decades after their daring heists.

I have an intense fascination with the story of D.B. Cooper, who hijacked a plane in 1971, demanded and was given $200 000 in ransom money, parachuted out of the plane in a black suit, and was never seen again.

Go down that wormhole. It’s worth it.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have those criminals who manage to grab attention for their sheer stupidity. That chap who fell asleep in the car he had broken into earlier this year comes to mind, although that still falls short of the crooks who drove a stolen vehicle into the entrance to Pollsmoor during a chase with police.

40-year-old Thomas Ngcobo, who has been on the run for seven years, is the latest name in contention for South Africa’s dumbest criminal.

It’s alleged that Ngcobo (below) stole hardware products which he had been sent to deliver to clients in 2015. IOL has the story:

“According to information on police disposal, the suspect was supposed to make hardware material delivery worth more R20 000.”

Image: SAPS

“It is alleged that the said material was redirected to other address without either the owner’s consent or knowledge,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

A week after the delivery failed to occur, a case of theft was registered at the Bethal Police Station in Mpumalanga.

After seven years on the lam, and with law enforcement seemingly unlikely to catch him, Ngcobo suffered a monumental brain fart:

“The suspect was unexpectedly nabbed on Monday, 15 August 2022 after he visited the Bethal SAPS to make enquiries about his application for police recruitment drive,” Mohlala said.

Firstly, a man on the run from the law applying to join SAPS is ill-advised, but to then follow up in person and end up being arrested is the cherry on top.

Despite the arrest happening through sheer dumb luck, provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, heralded the efforts of law enforcement:

“We are working tirelessly day and night, sticking to our mandate of creating a safe environment for all citizens. We cannot achieve that stage whilst other suspects are still roaming the streets and terrorising communities,” she said.

“It is just a matter of time before we bring them to justice.”

That last statement should come with an asterisk, adding that bringing suspects to justice is greatly aided when they deliver themselves to authorities long after the trail has gone cold.

Ngcobo appeared in court yesterday and was remanded in custody.

[source:iol]