No heritage rest for criminals, find Metro Police

26 September 2025

In a week where the department made numerous arrests for a range of offences, they were also kept on their toes on Heritage Day, with numerous incidents and arrests recorded.

‘Between Wednesday, 17 September and Wednesday, 24 September, the Metro Police Department recovered a range of suspected stolen property, six firearms, a zipgun and more than 50 rounds of ammunition, various quantities of drugs and 68 bottles of beer. Officers also made numerous arrests linked to the recovery of these items, and Heritage Day was quite busy too. Once again, our CCTV operators played a critical role in detecting incidents and ensuring responses, resulting in a number of arrests,’ said Metro Police spokesperson, Superintendent Ruth Solomons.

A look at some of the arrests on Heritage Day:
 
00:27 - Metro Police CCTV operators detected two males trying to remove a spare wheel, wheel brace, and other items from a Renault Kwid parked at the intersection of Rose and Wale Streets. Officers from Law Enforcement were dispatched and caught the duo in the act. The suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen goods and theft out of a motor vehicle.
 
08:20 - a Metro Police CCTV operator detected a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Long and Orange Streets. The Metro Police Camera Response Unit responded and arrested one of the drivers involved in the accident (aged 37) for drunken driving. Meanwhile, while doing traffic enforcement in Kraaifontein, officers arrested the 30-year-old driver of a White Volkswagen sedan at Old Paarl Road for being under the influence of alcohol.
 
10:05 - officers conducting patrols in the Bellville CBD noticed two trolleys containing black bags, standing unattended at the corner of South and Charl Malan Streets. They checked the contents and found 68 bottles (750ml) of beer. No one in the vicinity claimed responsibility for the items, so officers booked in the alcohol at Bellville SAPS as abandoned.
 
11:25 – Metro Police CCTV operators helped CCID staff track a suspect who snatched a gold chain at Adderley and Riebeeck Streets. The suspect was arrested for robbery and detained at Cape Town Central.
 
12:19 – A CCTV operator detected a suspected drug sale at Strand and Lower Plein Streets, resulting in the arrest of a suspect for possession of tik.
 
22:55 - A CCTV operator detected a motor vehicle accident involving a silver-grey BMW and a Mercedes Benz at Hans Strijdom Avenue, Cape Town. The driver of the Mercedes Benz drove away from the accident scene, heading towards Bree Street. The Metro Police Camera Response Unit and CCID responded swiftly. Metro Police were advised on the vehicle's direction of travel. Alert officers successfully apprehended the driver at the intersection of Buitengracht and Hout Streets. The 63-year-old motorist was arrested for reckless and negligent driving. The suspect was detained at Cape Town SAPS.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office