CRIME SCENE: Elsies River, Cape Town: Law enforcement authorities have made a major breakthrough in their fight against smash-and-grab criminals when they arrested five suspects.

The successful intelligence-driven operation to arrest the suspects included the City of Cape Town  Law Enforcement and Metro Police Departments, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and drone surveillance technology.

A statement released by the City said following multiple incidents over the last few weeks, intelligence teams analysed available data and reviewed CCTV footage to identify and profile the suspects.

“SAPS initiated an operation with the City’s departments and investigators secured warrants of arrest and launched a coordinated joint operation to apprehend those involved.

“During the operation, the City’s drone team provided real-time aerial surveillance, enabling officers on the ground to track the suspects’ movements. Overall, the operation concluded with the successful arrest of all five suspects,” said the statement.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said in March he met with the local improvement district, business owners, and operational staff in the area to discuss the ongoing challenge they experience with smash-and-grab incidents.

“I want to commend SAPS and City enforcement agencies for making progress on this matter by securing these arrests.

“The result highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-driven policing, inter-agency cooperation, and the use of advanced technology in supporting crime prevention and suspect apprehension efforts,’ said Smith.

The public is reminded to report emergencies, or any suspicious and/or criminal activities, by calling the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 or logging by-law and traffic-related complaints using the Safety and Security add-on to the City App.

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