Morningside intruder nabbed by security guard

THE Berea South African Police Service (SAPS) recently took custody of a suspected thief thanks to the rapid response of a local security company.

In the early hours of the morning on 17 July, the Fidelity ADT Security Monitoring Centre received a call for assistance from a Morningside resident after spotting a suspect in his yard. Armed response officer Isaac Ngema was immediately dispatched and arrived at the McKenzie Road property within minutes.

“All our armed response officers are equipped with in-vehicle tablet devices which enable them to receive auto dispatch signals as soon as a customer’s alarm is activated, enhancing response times. In any emergency situation we are all aware that time is of the essence and we therefore ensure that all our responses are done in an effective and efficient manner. In addition, and in line with regulations to control and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus we have provided all our staff with the necessary PPE equipment to ensure the safety of both our employees and customers,” explained Fidelity ADT’s district manager for KwaZulu-Natal, Vaughan Pillay.

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Upon arrival, officer Ngema conducted a thorough search of the property and noticed that the air conditioning unit had been tampered with. He then spotted the suspect fleeing over the boundary wall into the neighbour’s property and immediately gave chase. The suspect was successfully apprehended and handed over for arrest to members of the Berea SAPS.

“We commend officer Ngema for his swift response and bravery. I encourage both residents and businesses to conduct regular security assessments in order to resolve any vulnerable or unprotected areas to deter opportunistic criminals. Security technologies such as CCTV, outdoor beams and roof passives are often used to proactively prevent crime,” Pillay concluded.

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