Suspect arrested after allegedly trespassing at centre for horses and vulnerable children in Noordhoek

A suspect was arrested for alleged trespassing at the Tom Ro Haven in Noordhoek.PHOTO: Supplied


A suspect was arrested for allegedly trespassing at the Tom Ro Haven, a centre for horses and vulnerable children in Noordhoek.

Charnel Hattingh, group head of communications and marketing at Fidelity ADT, says their offices were alerted to a suspect lurking on the property on Wednesday 22 May.

“We were alerted by one of the centre’s team members at around (noon) that an unknown person was spotted on their property,” said Hattingh.

She added that the suspect was tracked to Main Road and detained.

“The suspect was arrested after he was caught trespassing at the Tom Ro Haven on Silvermine Road. This same facility was in the news last year too, when suspects broke in and stole goods and equipment worth more than R60 000.”

The centre’s chair Gillian McCulloch said it was distressing to once again find crime on their doorstep.

“After the robbery we had last year, our staff felt unsafe when they are on the property and there are also fears about the safety of our herds. My team tries to do great work for the animals and for the people we engage with, and we want to be able to keep our focus on them. It’s not nice to have to worry about crime as well.”

Tom Ro Haven rescues and rehabilitates horses and ponies, while also running developmental programmes for children and adults who are at risk or who have suffered traumas. The centre is entirely supported by public donations and the efforts of its volunteers.

READ: Haven for horses and children in ‘constant financial struggle’ to keep its doors open

“Thank you to the armed response officer who quickly responded to our call. I hope everyone in Noordhoek will keep their eyes and ears open for suspicious activity and that they will raise the alarm immediately. We live in a beautiful part of the city but need everyone to do their part so we can keep crime and criminals out of our community,” says Mc Culloch.

People’s Post reached out to Fish Hoek police for comment on Tuesday 28 May but received no response.

  • For more information on Tom Ro Haven visit https://www.tomrohaven.co.za/

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