Hard work and dedication from local public safety officers ensured that three suspects were apprehended in separate incidents in and around Hermanus in recent days. Their arrests were made possible by members of Hermanus Public Protection, a ratepayer funded initiative in partnership with Fidelity ADT. All suspects were charged with the possession of stolen property.

The first incident was on Monday 15 November, just after 10pm that evening. “One of the HPP officers was sent to investigate a break-in at Café 1904. On his way to the address, he came across an unidentified person pushing a shopping trolley with an expensive brand-new frame inside. The suspect was apprehended and escorted to the SAPS, and a case of being in possession of possible stolen property was opened,” says Marius Boshoff, Hermanus branch manager for Fidelity ADT.

The second incident was early on Wednesday 17 November 2021, when an HPP supervisor came across a well-known suspect walking with a shopping trolley. Inside the trolley was a compressor which still seemed to be in a good, working condition.

“The officer questioned the suspect how she obtained the compressor. The explanation he was given proved to be inaccurate after further investigation, and she was handed over to SAPS on a charge of possession of possible stolen property,” says Boshoff.

The third incident involved a person spotted pushing a lawnmower down the road, on Thursday 18 November at around 5pm.

“The person’s nervous demeanour raised the alarm of one of the HPP Camera operators who then dispatched a HPP response vehicle to investigate.

The suspect was questioned, and he explained that he was given the lawnmower by a resident along Westcliff Drive. This explanation turned out to be inaccurate, and the suspect was handed over to the SAPS.

“Well done to the HPP officers, patrollers and supervisors for their hard work in keeping our town safe,” says Boshoff.