Video footage shared on social media led to capture of vandals
Published: August 03, 2022<< BACK TO NEWS
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Metro Police arrested three suspects shortly after a video was shared at 13:16 this afternoon on a crime prevention WhatsApp group.
The men were caught red-handed while trying to take off with
pieces of the aluminium railing at the Russell Road off-ramp.
Metro Police Lieutenant Colonel Wade Warner could hardly
believe his eyes when he saw the incoming message showing the crime in progress
and immediately notified officers on patrol.
"The officers were patrolling in Strand Street, a few
hundred metres below the area of the M4-freeway where the culprits were trying
to damage the road infrastructure, in broad daylight.
"They located the vandals within a minute and arrested them
for damaging municipal infrastructure,” Warner said.
The WhatsApp group is a resource for business owners in the
Central Business District as well as Metro Police and the South African Police
Services to share information.
Acting Metro Police Commissioner Andrew Moses says the
collaboration between the business owners and law enforcement was a prime
example of how the scourge of vandalism can be approached.
"Cable theft and damage to infrastructure place a heavy
burden on the municipality’s service delivery programme as much needed
resources must be reverted to repairs instead of improving conditions for the
community at large.
"Plans are afoot to implement a comprehensive strategy to
address the vandalism and theft of municipal infrastructure holistically. Close
working relations with different stakeholders such as the business sector will
definitely be part of that strategy.
"However, we are happy to celebrate every little victory at
this stage,” Moses said.
The suspects were booked at the Humewood Police Station for
damaging infrastructure.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality by
Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za /
@kupidobaron).
Top stories
