PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Thanks to cooperation between various Plett crime-fighting units over the past week, stolen items have been returned to several residents.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations manager Otto Olivier said local police and the Plett Rapid Response unit launched into action late on Sunday night when reports were received of a woman whose handbag with her cellphone inside was snatched.
"The cellphone was tracked to the Pinetrees area," Olivier explained.
He said police crime prevention officers did a meticulous sweep of the area and followed up several leads, but to no avail.
"The stolen phone's signal was picked up again in the vicinity of Bossiesgif and the industrial area. It was clear that the person [suspect] was moving around with the stolen phone."
The officers then reported that another woman had handed over the phone to them at the N2 traffic circle after claiming she had found the phone. She had been questioned about the incident earlier.
Just before 22:00 on Sunday 28 November, the Crags Watch and Support group reported information about a home invasion in the Crags area. It is believed that four armed suspects stormed a home before fleeing the scene with the homeowner's Toyota Prado with various electronics and high-value items.
The rapid response unit and various PBCPA members responded immediately and tracked the stolen phones to a house in Kwanokuthula.
"Police assistance was requested and one suspect was arrested so far.
"The stolen goods and vehicle were also recovered. The victims were traumatised, but no physical injuries were sustained during their ordeal."
On 1 December, crime fighters were alerted to a suspect running towards the N2 with a stolen battery. PBCPA chairman Sally Turner said various PBCPA members, Bitou law enforcement officers and Plett.Watch responders gave chase. "The suspect was apprehended within 12 minutes and taken to the police station by municipal law enforcement officers," Turner said.
The following day, a generator was stolen from a local accommodation establishment. The PBCPA's Leon van Rensburg said Smhart Security armed responders found the generator next to a block of flats in High Street shortly thereafter.
Plettenberg Bay police confirmed the incidents.
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