Multiple arrests send message that crime won’t be tolerated in Toti

Blue Security armed response officers working with community policing and neighbourhood watch groups made multiple arrests this past weekend, including two alleged copper pipe thieves, a suspect wanted for a drug related crime, and a fifth suspect who was found selling goods suspected to be stolen property.

Blue Security community and media liaison officer Andreas Mathios said four of the arrests took place in Amanzimtoti. Blue Security and Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO) armed response officers responded to the scene of a crime at a property in Bhengu Road at around 11am on Saturday morning. “When they arrived the officers discovered two suspects in the process of stripping copper pipes from the property. The officers caught one of the suspects who was found on the balcony, while the second suspect was found in the ceiling and arrested. Both suspects were handed over to the Amanzimtoti SAPS,” Mathios said.
The suspects had derailed the driveway gate and broken a window to gain entry onto the premises.
Amanzimtoti armed response officer “Triple M” and a CCPO officer made a further two arrests of suspects on Friday. “The team arrested a suspect who is allegedly wanted by the police for a drug related crime and who has an outstanding warrant of arrest against him. He was arrested in Beach Road and handed over to the Amanzimtoti police,” Mathios said.
“A businessman reported to the CCPO that he had seen a suspect trying to sell a computer screen and a keyboard in the CBD. The two officers went to the scene to investigate and were not happy with the conflicting stories that the suspect provided regarding where he had obtained the goods,” Mathios said. “The suspect was handed over to the Amanzimtoti police who took him into custody for being in the possession of suspected stolen property.”
Mathios added that Blue Security armed response officers, a CCPO officer and an ET Security officer also arrested a further two alleged housebreaking suspects who had broken into a vacant house this morning. “A Blue Security officer who was patrolling the area spotted a suspect climbing over the perimeter wall of the property. He arrested the suspect and immediately called for back up when the suspect informed him that his accomplice was still inside the house. Triple M, CCPO and ET officers responded to the scene and arrested the second suspect. The team recovered stolen goods including chairs and small electronic goods. The suspects were later released as there was no complainant available to open a case,” he said.
Further crime fighting efforts in Amanzimtoti will be bolstered by a newly deployed tactical resource.
Mathios said in a separate incident in Pinetown a vigilant armed response officer spotted a suspect running along Goodwood Road in Pinetown where he was fleeing from Motala Heights Neighbourhood Watch members who were pursuing him on Friday. “The officer joined the chase and managed to arrest the suspect on the corner of Goodwood Road and Alexander Road. The suspect was handed over to the Pinetown SAPS at the scene in connection with copper pipe and cable theft in the Motala Heights area.”