PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A man long regarded as a menace in New Horizons ran out of road in the early hours of Saturday morning, 28 February, when a co-ordinated stop-and-search operation closed in on him.

The arrest followed a late-night operation spearheaded by about 12 members of the New Horizons task team, operating under the Community in Blue (CIB) structure.

The team began stop-and-search actions in the neighbour-hood at around 23:00 on Friday 27 February, targeting drugs and dangerous weapons.

Shortly after 01:00, they intercepted a man in his early thirties. A search allegedly uncovered a firearm, a knife, tik and Mandrax tablets in his possession. The police was immediately called to the scene.

Police reaction was swift

Two sergeants responded within minutes. According to Clement Titus, a member of the New Horizons task team, officers indicated that the firearm recovered had allegedly been used earlier when Smart Security responded to a suspected housebreaking.

During that incident, the suspect reportedly pointed the weapon at security officers before fleeing. Police had been actively searching for him since.

"This individual has been terrorising the community and making a serious nuisance of himself," Titus said. He praised the police for their rapid response and professional co-operation, describing the arrest as the result of strong collaboration between law enforcement and community structures.

The suspect appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate's Court on Monday before the matter was transferred to Knysna for further proceedings.

He remains in custody at the Knysna police holding cells.

The operation has been hailed by residents as proof that visible policing and active neighbourhood involvement can yield tangible results.

Community in Blue members say the message is clear: crime in New Horizons will be confronted - and co-operation between the police and community patrols will remain firm and focused.

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