Rondebosch thief behind bars
A suspect has been arrested after allegedly stealing items out of a car in Rondebosch last week (Wednesday 27 July 2016).
Armed response officer Bongani Gceya was on patrol in Rondebosch and noticed a suspicious acting person in Sangrove Drive just after 8pm. After calling for backup, he searched the person and found a bag containing various work tools in on the man’s possession.
“The suspect explained that he was a handyman and that he used the tools for the work he did. Officer Gceya was doubtful of this explanation and asked for Rondebosch SAPS to be called to the scene. When the police arrived, they took the suspect back to the police station for questioning,” said ADT Security’s District Manager (Cape Town South) Mr Jade Hanning.
A Rondebosch resident noticed the events and posted a message about the suspect on a community social media platform. Another resident noticed this post, and immediately went to the Rondebosch police station.
“When this resident arrived at the police station, he positively identified the bag of tools as having earlier been stolen out of his vehicle. The suspect was arrested and charged with the theft,” said Hanning.
The arrest proves the usefulness of effective community communication networks, said Hanning, especially when it comes to crime fighting.
“We’re living in an age in which ordinary citizens are invited to be active participants in the fight against crime. Knowledge is power when it comes to crime prevention and successes hinge on the sharing of intelligence, so harnessing the power of social media is imperative.”
He also congratulated officer Gceya, for trusting his instinct as this ultimately led to the successful arrest of the suspect.