PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - There were several crime-fighting successes in Plettenberg Bay over the past week, including the recovery of tools and machinery worth more than a million rand and the confiscation of drugs.

Police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said members of the Plettenberg Bay crime prevention unit followed up on information and searched a house in Wittedrift on on 3 September at about 07:00, and found seven syringes containing a red substance believed to be narcotics and arrested a man. “He was released on a police 496 form to appear in court.”

Unit members also searched a house in Qolweni on the same day. “Officers found a blue plastic bag containing 10 smaller bags of dagga,” she said, adding that a suspect was arrested for dealing drugs. “The estimated value of the drugs is unknown at this stage.”

In a separate crime-fighting success, machinery and tools worth more than a million rand was recovered.

Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said perpetrators gained access through Coastal Tool Hire’s roof last week and managed to flee with tools and machinery worth over R1-million. On 4 September, the PBCPA received information of suspicious activity near the Wittedrift turn-off and a Plett Rapid Response member who kept close observation, reported that four suspects were loading items onto a white bakkie, Olivier said.

On inspection, several high-value tools were found on the vehicle, covered with chopped wood.

“The nearby bush area was swept by Plett K9, where various other high-value machinery and tools were found. Members of Coastal Tool Hire arrived shortly thereafter, he said, and identified the goods as their property.”

The suspects were apprehended and the stolen goods and the bakkie were seized by police.

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