Plett’s eye in the sky a successful tool in the fight against crime

Plettenberg Bay crime fighters' resources are coming in handy, as proved by another successful apprehension of a suspect using a drone.

The Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) recently acquired the device to use in its crime-fighting and prevention activities, and in just over a week, two suspects were arrested thanks to drone surveillance.

The association's operations head, Otto Olivier, said they received a report on the evening of 27 May about intruders at a property in Beachy Head Drive. Several crime fighters, including police and security officers, responded and covered the area after a suspect fled the scene. "The suspect was spotted by our drone and the pilot informed responders about his position where he was hiding in the bushes," Olivier said. The drone operator guided the responders to the suspect's position and he was swiftly apprehended.

Just three days earlier the PBCPA received reports of three suspects in the backyard of a home in the same street. Olivier said they were spotted on CCTV surveillance and were seen leaving the scene and running towards the beach area. "Our drone was used to scan the beach fynbos area for the suspects. Responders also took up position at all possible escape routes," Olivier said.

During the search operations, he added, crime fighters arrested another suspect found hiding in the bushes. "This suspect was not linked to the Beachy Head incident."

Olivier said the drone played a major role in locating the man hidden in the bushes. "The three suspects involved in the Beachy Head incident are however still at large, but responders are continuing to patrol and scan the area."