PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The value of cooperation in the fight against crime was yet again revealed in Plettenberg Bay over the past week, with several successes.
• On 6 September there was an alert just after 20:00 from Fidelity ADT about a break-in in progress at the Dunes Villas in Keurbooms. “There was a request for assistance and several PBCPA members responded and were on the scene in minutes.”
“The suspects were chased down the beach towards Silver Ranch area. Footprints and unknown tracks were found in the sand. A discarded garden trolley was also found on the beach nearby.
"Suspected stolen goods were discovered in the fynbos along the dunes at about 21:00.
"Half-an-hour later more suspected stolen goods were found near another discarded garden trolley on the beach,” Olivier said.
Despite these efforts and an “exhausting foot chase” the suspects disappeared in the dark fynbos in the vicinity of Strandmeer at about 22:00.
The suspected stolen goods were also handed over to police.
• Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said on 7 September that several members responded to an alarm that was triggered in the Bowtie area, and managed to apprehend the suspect shortly thereafter.
• On the same day, Plett Watch response team member Chad Mansfield noticed a person seeming to look for something in the bushes at Twin Rivers. The person then got into a canoe and paddled over to Stanley Island.
Mansfield informed various stakeholders and found there had been a burglary earlier at Stanley Island.
Various role players responded and managed to apprehend the suspect when he returned later to collect the stolen goods he had allegedly stashed in the bushes.
• On 9 September an alert was received at about 08:30 from Fidelity ADT of a break-in in progress in the Poortjies area.
“Within record time PBCPA members were on the scene. The Smhart Alarms and Plett Security combined control room operators supplied detailed descriptions of the two suspects and shared information throughout the process. CCTV footage images of suspects were used during the operation,” Olivier said.
Meanwhile members of various security companies, Bitou law enforcement, Plett Watch volunteers and PBCPA members “swarmed the area” and blocked off all possible exit points.
Olivier said a Plett Security officer spotted one of the suspects and requested urgent assistance while chasing him down.
The suspect then reportedly pulled out a knife and threatened the officer, but a Prime Security response member who was on the scene tackled the suspect, who was arrested an hour after the break-in.
• Just minutes later an alert came from the Beacon Isle Spar about a theft. “The alleged culprit was chased down and apprehended by a Plett Security guard, but not before the suspect attempted to stab the guard with a knife.”
All suspects and evidence were handed over to the police.
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