Tactical and Armed Response Units Detain 5 Thieves over 2 Days

Blue Security had a busy weekend apprehending suspects involved in four separate incidents in and around Durban.
“An observant reaction officer on patrol in Amanzimtoti noticed a door ajar at a residence in the area at about 9.30am on Sunday morning,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios. “Further investigations with the tenant revealed that a trespasser had forced open the back door, taken the flatscreen TV and fled the property,” Mathios said. “The reaction units in the area were immediately put on the alert, patrols stepped up and the suspect was spotted on Old Main Road a short while later,” he said.
“A chase ensued as the suspect headed towards the KwaMakhutha informal settlement. The Blue Security South Tactical Officer was later successful in apprehending the suspect redhanded as he was about to sell the stolen TV to a third party living in Gwala Road in the settlement,” he said. “KwaMakhutha SAPS attended the scene and the suspect was transferred to Amanzimtoti SAPS. A case of housebreaking and theft has been opened and the suspect remains in custody,” he said.
In a second incident on Sunday morning events escalated when a shoplifting suspect in Umhlatuzana, Chatsworth became aggressive, pulled out a firearm and pointed it at Blue Security’s Pinetown Tactical Ambassador. “The incident began after a man was seen leaving a garage shop with goods which had not been paid for,” Mathios said. “The shoplifting suspect left the area in a vehicle. Registration details received enabled the units to locate the address,” he said. “Three units followed up the information and arrived at the house as the vehicle was exiting the property. On questioning the suspect admitted to taking the items without paying. He was asked to proceed to the garage shop,” he said.
“Events escalated during an altercation between the suspect and the shop manager when the suspect pulled out a firearm and pointed it at Blue Security’s Pinetown Tactical Ambassador,” Mathios said. “The shoplifting suspect was immediately placed under arrest. A 9mm pistol with five loaded rounds of ammunition were found in his possession,” he said. “The suspect was taken to Bayview SAPS and the firearm and ammunition handed over to the investigating officer,” he said.
In a third incident on Sunday morning a suspected thief was caught in the act trying to steal floodlights from outside a home in Bellair. “Again, it was the eagle eye of a patrolling Blue Security reaction officer who investigated the suspicious presence of a man in a front yard,” Mathios said. “The suspect had been attempting to remove floodlights from outside the wall surrounding the front of the property,” he said. “When confronted the suspect tried to flee but was apprehended by the reaction officer. The suspect was handed over to members of Bellair SAPS who attended the scene,” he said.
“In the fourth incident two Blue Security reaction officers patrolling along the M4 near the Merebank offramp stopped two suspects who were carrying 16 plastic chairs between them,” Mathios said. “On questioning, the men admitted to stealing the chairs from the Wentworth area but refused to cooperate with further details of the exact location,” he said. “The two suspects were handed over to Wentworth SAPS and investigations are continuing,” he said.