A Cape Town waiter has died after trying to stop suspected cellphone thieves from leaving the restaurant he worked at.
The victim, Braden Cannoo was flung from the bonnet of the getaway vehicle.
According to Jakes restaurant owner, David Ellis, Cannoo was dragged about a kilometre along the road on Monday night.
“He wasn’t trying to save the world, he just felt it wasn’t right that someone had taken a phone.”
Ellis said the heartbreaking news was broken to Braden Cannoo’s family on Monday night.
The 22 year-old from Lakeside had been working at the restaurant for a year.
Ellis said the thieves who disguised as a couple entered the restaurant around 18:00 and asked for a table.
Another customer that walked in saw one of the suspects take the manager’s cellphone on the reception desk.
Their actions made her scream a little bit out of panic to make it known that someones phone had been taken.
The couple ran separate ways when the alarm was raised. The man rushed out the front door and into the back of a waiting vehicle.
“Braden, who is a studious guy, said: ‘That is not your possession, you must give it back,’” Ellis recalled.
“He jumped onto the bonnet of the car, thinking they would not go anywhere, but they accelerated. A car guard said they were very aggressive and intentional.”
The vehicle drove off with the waiter through the outdoor shopping centre parking lot.
“The car sped toward the Reddam, US Consulate traffic circle where he was eventually freed from under the car… It’s just very tragic, unlucky and unfortunate.”
Ellis said they were able to grab to capture the female suspect. She was kept behind the bathroom gate until police arrived.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed they were investigating a murder and theft case.
According to the police records, three men and a female had walked into the restaurant and decided to leave before being seated.
“It was then noticed that one of the employee’s cellphone was stolen. A chased ensued and the three males jumped into an Avanza while the female suspect was left behind,” she said.
The woman was kept behind bars on a case of theft, while the men were still on the loose.
Customers and friends have shared their shock and sadness at the turn of events. They described the young waiter and student as gentle, thoughtful and a real hero using their social media pages.
One of Braden’s cousins also tweeted that their family was mourning their son.
Anyone with more information on the incident can phone Sergeant Brink on 021 702 8900 or the commander of the detective branch Captain Alexander on 082 469 2578
