Beacon Bay extortion racket breakthrough

Police sting operation nets suspect after terrified homeowners told to pay up to ward off danger

A 48-year-old man was arrested in a sting operation early on Wednesday after allegedly trying to extort more than R600,000 from terrified Beacon Bay residents.

On Wednesday last week, panic spread among 30 homeowners who woke up to find stapled envelopes wrapped in danger tape in their driveways.

Inside each was a rock and a printed letter demanding R22,000 in order to avoid “danger”.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed a suspect was arrested at 4am on Wednesday.

“Police pounced … in Beacon Bay, where a man was questioned and later arrested on a charge of extortion.

“He is due to appear in the East London magistrate’s court tomorrow [Thursday] on charges of extortion.”

The letter demanded that R22,000 be dropped off at a certain time and placed inside a demarcated bin behind an electrical trans-discussed on groups in case somebody might be checking up. SAPS got on to it straight away.

“Early on Wednesday, the guy rocked up. He parked his white vehicle further down the road but then went to open the bin, which was wrapped in the same danger tape.

“He was caught. But there may be more people involved — there was an abandoned vehicle with nobody in the car whose driver may have fled.”

She said based on security footage, the suspect apparently dropped off the threatening letters between 1am and 5am on Wednesday a week ago, with another suspect driving a white vehicle.

“This is the weirdest thing — I’ve never seen this happen before.

“Residents were really afraid, they didn’t want to go to the police, and some wanted to pay the cash.”

A Beacon Bay family, who asked to remain anonymous, found their letter in the early hours of the morning.

The husband, who was away at the time, said his wife was in a panic and phoned their security company to investigate.

“This guy must’ve thrown