CCTV proves to be the undoing of a number of suspects
12 September 2025
The City’s Metro Police Department has had numerous operational successes in the past week – resulting in arrests and confiscations.
CCTV ARRESTS
‘The Metro Police Strategic Surveillance Unit had a number of successes in the past week, with CCTV operators spotting a number of incidents that resulted in at least six arrests for possession of drugs in the CBD area. The operators were also able to detect numerous other incidents related to robbery and theft,’ said Metro Police spokesperson, Superintendent Ruth Solomons.
On Monday, 8 September at 13:05 CCID staff requested assistance from Metro Police to search a suspect who grabbed a cellphone from a pedestrian at the corner of Adderley and Waterkant Streets. The 18-year-old was found in possession of a cellphone that he could not account for, and was charged with robbery and detained at Cape Town Central SAPS.
On Thursday, 4 September, a CCTV operator noticed three males breaking the rear window of a white sedan at Main and Clyde Road in Green Point. Officers responded, but the suspects had already fled. Later, CCTV operators spotted two of the suspects at McDonalds, where they were apprehended by Law Enforcement and detained at Sea Point SAPS for malicious damage to property and theft out of a motor vehicle.
On Wednesday, 3 September, a CCTV operator spotted two suspects robbing a motorist at the corner of Castle and Strand Street. They ran off, disappearing out of camera view. They were later spotted by the operator, who alerted officers on the ground. The suspects, both 18, were found in possession of two cellphones and were detained for possession of suspected stolen goods at Cape Town Central SAPS.
SIX FIREARM CONFISCATIONS
• Metro Police officers recovered a firearm in Tafelsig on Thursday, 11 September, just minutes after a shooting incident. At around 21:00, officers on patrol in the area heard multiple shots and drove in the direction of the gunfire. As they approached Sharon Road, they saw a suspect running with what-looked-like a firearm in his hand. The officers gave chase and caught the suspect just as he was trying to scale the fence of a property. They recovered a pistol with its serial number filed off, and four rounds of ammunition. The 23-year-old suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. He was detained at Mitchells Plain SAPS.
• On Tuesday, 9 September, officers arrested a 23-year-old man in Athlone for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area, and spotted two men walking in Rosemary Crescent. They tried to run away when they saw the patrol vehicle, but were quickly apprehended. One of the men was found with a firearm hidden in his waistband and a round of ammunition. He was detained at Athlone SAPS.
• In Hanover Park, officers observed a group of males gathered at Agulhas Court. The group split up when they saw the patrol vehicle, but officers managed to intercept them and requested permission to conduct a search. One of the men tried to flee, and in the struggle that followed, physically assaulted an officer. He was swiftly subdued and found in possession of a firearm and five rounds of ammunition. The 21-year-old was detained at Philippi SAPS on multiple charges, including possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of illegal ammunition, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
• While on patrol on the R300 on Monday, 8 September, Metro Police officers spotted five males at the Silversands foot bridge in Delft who were behaving in a manner arousing suspicion. The officers stopped to investigate, and on approaching the group, officers noticed one of the males discarding an object, after which the group ran away in different directions. Officers gave chase, but unfortunately the suspects got away. They returned to the area where they saw the suspect drop the item and recovered a 9mm Norinco Pistol with one round of ammunition. Officers booked in the items as evidence at Delft SAPS.
• In Hanover Park, members of the Metro Police Tactical Response Unit received a tip off about a man in possession of a firearm. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers set off and found him at one of the courts in the area. The suspect ran away and tried to ditch the firearm during the pursuit, but he was caught soon after. Officers also recovered the firearm and 13 rounds of ammunition – it was later established that the firearm had been reported stolen in Pinelands.
• On Wednesday, 3 September, officers responded to a complaint of a home invasion in Kwezi Park, Khayelitsha where an adult male tried gaining entry to a residence by pointing a firearm at the owner. Officers arrived to find that the suspect had fled. They were given a detailed description of the suspect and tracked him down a while later. The suspect (27) had a 9mm pistol in his possession – he was detained at Site B SAPS for Possession of a Prohibited firearm.
OTHER
• On Monday, 8 September, Metro Police officers swiftly recovered a stolen vehicle in Manenberg, after receiving a tip off. Just after 08:00, they spotted the white Honda Civic and swooped on the occupants, detaining a 44-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle.
• On Saturday, 6 September, Metro Police officers in Durbanville noticed a known drug dealer throwing a black plastic bag under a taxi. Upon further investigation, they discovered that the bag contained dagga - 90 small bankies, 15 dagga cigarettes, one small bag with loose dagga as well as nearly R200 in cash. The 40-year-old suspect was arrested for dealing in dagga and was detained at Durbanville SAPS.
• On the same day in Wesbank, officers attended a Domestic Violence complaint and arrested a 28-year-old suspect for intimidation under the Domestic Violence Act. He was detained at Mfuleni SAPS.
• On Friday, 5 September, Metro Police Officers were conducting foot patrols in Charl Malan Road in the Bellville CBD, when they spotted a man behaving in a manner arousing suspicion. The suspect granted permission for a search to be conducted, and was found in possession of 22 Boss Mandrax tablets. The 47-year-old was detained at Bellville SAPS.
• While conducting crime prevention patrols at the corner of Robert Sobukwe Drive and Access Road in Bellville South, officers pulled over a motorist, only to discover that he was under the influence of alcohol. The 31-year-old was detained at Bellville SAPS.
• In Hanover Street in the CBD, officers on patrol saw a group of people chasing an individual. They stopped to investigate, and were informed that the suspect being chased had broken into a taxi. He was found with a USB stick, Pioneer Radio face, a black car remote and a silver knife, which the vehicle owner identified as his property. The 18-year-old suspect was detained at Cape Town Central SAPS.
• While recording the details of an accident at the corner of Darling and Buitenkant street, Metro Police Officers detected a strong smell of alcohol on the breath of the driver that collided with a departmental patrol vehicle. The driver admitted to having consumed a large bottle of beer and was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. The suspect, aged 42 was detained at Cape Town Central SAPS.
• On Thursday, 4 September 2025, officers pulled over a white Toyota Fortuner on Voortrekker Road, Bellville, during routine crime prevention patrols. The driver was not able to produce a valid driver’s licence, and officers noticed that he was behaving in a very suspicious manner. They had their doubts about the vehicle documentation, and took the vehicle to SAPS for further verification. There they discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Durban. The 46-year-old suspect was detained at Bellville SAPS.
• On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, Metro Police officers attended a Domestic Violence complaint in Bonteheuwel. Upon arrival at the residence, the complainant provided the officers with a protection order. The respondent, a 21-year-old male, was arrested and detained at Bishop Lavis SAPS for contempt of court.
Emergency incidents can be reported to the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cell phone, or by dialling 107 from a landline.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
