Two suspects were arrested in town in separate incidents recently, after they were both spotted pushing shopping trolleys. Their behaviour alerted local security officers, which ultimately led to both being arrested by Hermanus SAPS.

The first case took place earlier this month, when the CCTV operators at Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) raised the alarm. HPP is a ratepayer funded initiative in partnership with Fidelity ADT.

“The camera operators saw an unidentified person pushing a shopping trolley just after 4am in North Cliff and alerted colleagues in the area to respond. The suspect and his trolley was soon located, and it was found to be containing a knife, as well as other suspected stolen items and items used in the commission of housebreaking,” says Marius Boshoff, Hermanus branch manager for Fidelity ADT.

Hermanus SAPS took the suspect into custody, and he has been charged with the possession of a dangerous weapon and housebreaking items as well as suspected stolen items.

A few days later, the HPP team again responded to an incident where a shopping trolley was involved.

“Officers noticed a person pushing a trolley on Church Street just after 7am that morning and stopped to investigate. The trolley contained bags of cement, and the suspect was unable to give a plausible explanation on how he obtained it. He was handed over into police custody, and has also been charged with the possession of suspected stolen property,” says Boshoff.

“Well done to the HPP team who trusted their instinct and responded, which ultimately led to these successful arrests.”

Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) is a non-profit company (NPC), established to provide public safety and top-up cleansing services in a geographical designated area of Hermanus, Western Cape. It is funded by the ratepayers through the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-law and Policy. Visit https://hpp.org.za/ for more info.