A crime-fighting initiative by Strandfontein police and volunteers to crack down on the increase in burglaries has yielded results following the arrests of two men.
The two, who are believed to be part of a crowbar gang, were arrested for housebreaking.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said at about 12.15pm police were alerted that attempts were made to break into houses in the vicinity of Strandfontein Village on
Tuesday.
“A description of the suspected vehicle was circulated on social media to inform
relevant neighbourhood watch groups. At the same time the Strandfontein station commander and one of his members immediately patrolled the area of Bayview.
"They noticed a white Hyundai parked in Nautilus and approached it. The driver immediately pressed the hooter and two suspects ran out of a property past the police vehicle.
"The vehicle sped off. One suspect was caught immediately and the other was arrested on Baden Powell Drive by the police,” Van Wyk said.
Some items belonging to the complainant's house were recovered. The two suspects, believed to be part of a so-called "crowbar gang", will appear in court soon.
Community policing forums and neighbourhood watches said the suspects arrested were from Nyanga.
Strandfontein Community Policing Forum chairperson Sandy Schuter said: “This started a few months ago, the invaders used different vehicles. There have been two attempts and a number of house break-ins in the past two weeks.
"A WhatsApp group was created and an intensive patrolling initiative was started."