Two local armed response officers managed to apprehend a suspect in the Hermanus Industrial area, after responding to an alert from the Hermanus Neighbourhood Watch WhatsApp group.

“Our Hermanus control room is linked to several community WhatsApp groups which is used to communicate vital crime related information. These platforms have served as an important tool to fight crime and has become a preferred method for sharing critical information in a quick manner,” says Fidelity ADT’s branch manager for Hermanus, Marius Boshoff.

Armed Response Officers Hainsel Valentyn and Donovan Jacobs responded to the alert message late on Sunday night (23h15, Sunday 8 November 2020) after neighborhood watch members saw an unidentified person entering a yard belonging to a business on Steenbras Street. When they arrived at the address, they found a suspect busy stealing items. He was detained and handed over into police custody and the items recovered.

Boshoff says they have seen a number of incidents targeting businesses across Hermanus recently, and he called on business owners to install adequate security measures.

“Well done to Officers Valentyn and Jacobs for making the arrest and for the smooth cooperation with our partners in the Neighbourhood Watch. It once again highlights the importance of a collaborative effort in the fight against crime in Hermanus.”