Proaction leads to arrest of suspects linked to string of crimes in Upper Highway

A vigilant Blue Security armed response officer accompanied by a supporting response officer and Crestwatch neighbourhood watch members apprehended two alleged housebreaking suspects yesterday, who are believed to be connected to a string of crimes in the Upper Highway area.
Blue Security operations director Brian Jackson said an armed response officer was patrolling Umgeni View Road in Crestholme when he noticed a suspicious Gold VW Polo in the area at around 12.25pm. “There were two suspects in the VW Polo which was driving in the direction of the Molweni Taxi rank. The proactive officer immediately contacted SAPS to do a check on the vehicle’s registration, to find out if it was a wanted vehicle on their database,” he said.
“When the suspects noticed that the officer had seen them and was paying attention to their activity, they did a u-turn and fled at high speed towards the taxi rank. A member of the Crestwatch Neighbourhood Watch, who happened to be driving in the area at that exact time, spotted the officer in pursuit of the suspects and followed in support. As the suspects turned into the taxi rank they quickly ditched several housebreaking implements including a crowbar and other tools,” Jackson said.
“The two Blue Security response officers cornered the suspects at the Molweni taxi rank by blocking the exit down to Inanda Road and managed to detain them. The suspects were handed over to the Hillcrest SAPS at the scene and taken in custody to the police station for further questioning.”
Jackson added that the suspects were believed to be linked to as many as ten housebreakings in the Upper Highway Area from Gillitts to Waterfall and Crestholme. “The arrest was a result of the strong team work that we have built up with the Crestwatch neighbourhood watch team, as well as other neighbourhood watches in the area who were on hand to assist and secure the area and implements discarded by the suspects,” he said. “We believe we can make a greater impact in the fight against crime if we work closely with residents and the SAPS to proactively police our neighbourhoods and send the strong message to criminals that they will be brought to book.”