Security cameras in and around Hermanus continue to be a real thorn in the side for would-be criminals. It helped in the arrest of at least two suspects recently, both of whom were found with bicycles reported stolen.
It was just before 11:00 on 10 June that a CCTV camera operator with Hermanus Public Protection saw an unknown person with a children’s bicycle walking in the CBD. His demeanour raised suspicion and an HPP foot patroller was asked to respond. HPP is operated by Fidelity ADT.
“The patroller asked the man where he had obtained the bike,” said Marius Boshoff, Hermanus branch manager for Fidelity ADT. “The suspect gave two versions of the story – firstly, that it was his child’s bike that he wanted to sell for money and later, he was given the bike by a resident in Zwelihle. Both stories were discovered not to be true.”
The suspect was arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen goods.
Another incident on 8 June involved a report of unidentified suspects spotted on a roof in Northcliff.
“The HPP team received a call for help from the Alfa Neighbourhood Watch with a description of the alleged suspects,” Boshoff said. “A search of the area didn’t have any success, but later that morning CCTV operators saw two men matching the description given earlier, walking in Westcliff. One suspect was detained with a suspected stolen bicycle as well as a dangerous weapon, while his alleged accomplice managed to evade apprehension.”
In the third incident (on 7 June) an alleged shoplifter was arrested after he had reportedly stolen jewellery from a store in the CBD. Said Boshoff: “Despite his best attempts to get away a team from HPP and local neighbourhood-watch officers worked with armed-response officers and later located him where he was hiding at Hoys Koppie.
“This suspect was handed over to Hermanus police, who arrested him on a charge of shoplifting. Please alert the HPP team or any of the law-enforcement and security partners in Hermanus of any suspicious activities. Working together we can ensure these suspects end up behind bars.”.Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) is a non-profit company (NPC) established to provide public safety and top-up cleansing services in a geographical designated area of Hermanus, Western Cape. It is funded by the ratepayers through the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-law and Policy. Visit https://hpp.org.za/.
