Pretoria, South Africa – December 12, 2025
A suspected house robber was shot by a homeowner during an attempted break-in at a residence in Nieuw Muckleneuk early this morning.
This incident occurs amid ongoing challenges with residential burglaries across South Africa, where housebreaking remains the most prevalent household crime. Recent statistics show that theft of personal property affected around 1.2 million individuals in the 2024/25 period, and while some categories of crime have declined, housebreaking and burglary continue to dominate crimes experienced by households.
Burglaries contribute to significant economic and social problems in the country. High levels of property crime cost the economy billions of rand annually, lead to business closures and relocations, and result in job losses. On a personal level, victims often suffer lasting psychological trauma, financial hardship, and a diminished sense of safety in their own homes. Rising inequality and uneven policing resources further fuel the problem, while measures such as gated communities and private security have become commonplace, though they do not eliminate the risk entirely.
Volunteer community responders arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the incident. They discovered the injured suspect and began providing first aid. Security personnel from several companies helped secure the area and protect those involved.
The suspect received on-site stabilization before Gauteng Emergency Medical Services paramedics assumed responsibility for further medical care.
The South African Police Service is investigating the matter.
Assistance at the scene came from Axon Security, CSI Security, Fidelity-ADT, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, Interactive Security, and SAPS Brooklyn.
Local authorities advise residents to stay alert and notify officials of any unusual behavior.
