On the night of 17 October 2019, criminals in Port Elizabeth could run but certainly not hide as police including our K9 colleagues made sure they were apprehended and put behind bars.
The theft of copper cables is a continuous problem in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and it has serious implications on our electricity and telecommunication infrastructure. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Surveillance Unit and the SAPS work closely together in attempting to curb this problem.
At about 22:00, PE K9 unit received information about possible cable theft on the N2 freeway opposite the Baywest Mall.
On response, members met the crew from the NMBM Surveillance Unit who were already monitoring the movement of the suspects. Approximately 6 suspects were busy stripping the cables from two light poles. Sgt Volente Baatjies and her dog ‘Jack’ tactically approached the suspects through the dark dense bushes. As they neared the suspects, Sgt Baatjies instructed them to stand still however the suspects started fleeing in different directions. Jack was released and he apprehended a 51 year old male.
The street poles were damaged and about 10 metres of underground cable was found nearby. The approximate value is R3000.
The suspect was detained on charges of theft and under the Criminal matters Amendment Act (tampering, damage theft of essential infrastructure). He is expected to appear in court on Monday, 21 October 2019.
In a separate incident, three housebreaking suspects were apprehended by the K9 unit and SAPS Mount Road members. It is alleged that at about 03:30 this morning, 18 October 2019, Mount Road police were patrolling in Cape Road when they noticed people inside a pizza shop. When they stopped, the 3 males ran out.
One suspect, aged 36 years was immediately arrested while the other two managed to run away. Back-up was requested and Sgt Volente Baatjies and Const Angelo Windvogel from the K9 unit responded with their dogs Jack, a German Shepherd and Dorn, a Dutch Shepherd.
In the last 8 months Jack has apprehended 21 suspects.
The two suspects were spotted running into a yard in 6th Avenue and over a wall. When the two suspects ignored the warning to heed, Jack and Dorn were released and both suspects, aged 20 and 30 years old were arrested.
All three suspects are detained on a charge of housebreaking and will appear in court on Monday, 21 October 2019.
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