Residents of Palm Beach can breathe a sigh of relief, after a man (34) allegedly linked to a spate of crimes in the area, was arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and 15 rounds of ammunition last Saturday evening.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Sibu Ncane confirmed the man was arrested in the Inkulu area in Port Edward.
He said no bail was granted after he appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s court this week, and he remains in police custody.
The case has been postponed to July 25.
After months of living in fear, peace has been restored to the suburbs of Palm Beach and Mpenjati following the arrest.
Darius Fourie, head of Palm Beach Neighbourhood Watch, said they welcomed and thanked the Port Edward police for the arrest. “We extend our appreciation to Acting Station Commander, Captain Paddy O’Connor for his assistance in this case,” he added.
“The man who was arrested last Saturday was out on bail for armed robbery. We need the courts to hand the appropriate sentences to individuals who bring chaos and harm to our communities,” he said.
During this period of turmoil, all sectors of the community has come together to fight crime in the area.
Fourie also thanked GP Security and Airtrack Extreme Security for also going the extra mile to help.
Airtrack Extreme Security took to the sky after an armed robbery at a residence in Palm Beach last Thursday.
Hendrick Ludick of Airtrack said they have been assisting Palm Beach Neighbourhood Watch and the Palm Beach Community Police Forum in the search for the suspects involved in the recent spate of crime.
More than 30 incidents involving armed robbery, have been reported in the last three months.
Fourie said they were extremely concerned about the crime, and believed there were two gangs operating – one group that targeted beachgoers and fishermen at Mpenjati Beach – and the second gang (consisting of two people) that targeted the residential area of Palm Beach.
Fourie has since reported that the areas of concern, thankfully, have been quiet since Saturday’s arrest.
“Our little slice of paradise has returned to normal, and I can’t thank everyone enough for their help during this difficult period,” he added.
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