The combined efforts of the Fidelity ADT members from across Johannesburg, the Fidelity Airwing division, West Rand police’s K9 unit as well as Vumacam technology led to the apprehension and arrest of four suspects wanted for multiple crimes including common robbery and rape on December 8.
The suspects escaped the Strubens Valley Makro in a blue Volkswagen Polo hatchback after stealing a display laptop, November 27. Two males and two females posing as couples made off with the laptop valued at approximately R20 000. Reports suggest the group distracted the sales person by purposefully triggering the alarm of one laptop, then removing another as the employee was busy resetting the alarm.
Charnel Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT, said the blue Polo’s details were then loaded onto the Vumacam network. “Fortunately our Community Operations Manager on the East Rand, Sheldon Grobler, was on his way home at the time when the wanted vehicle drove past him on Ontdekkers Road. He immediately made a U-turn and started chasing the vehicle,” she explained.
“Shortly after West Rand K9 unit arrived and assisted to intercept the vehicle of which all four suspects from the initial incident were occupants,” she added. All four suspects were taken to Honeydew Police Station where, according to Charnel, further questioning revealed that at least three of the suspects had open cases against them involving theft, rape, shoplifting and common robbery.
Charnel concluded, “Licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras are an excellent crime deterrent. There are several benefits for both the community and security providers as the LPR cameras are linked to a national database of suspicious or stolen vehicles. The system is monitored 24-hours a day and the presence of the cameras themselves act as a good deterrent to criminals.”
