Mall Robberies: Police’s Call on Public’s Assistance Proves Fruitful

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

I commend the member of the public’s safety awareness and pro-active actions in identifying and alerting the authorities to the whereabouts of one of the suspects involved with mall robberies at Canal Walk.

This quick thinking, recognising the need to perform a civic duty and approaching the relevant authorities has led to an arrest, which will now hopefully lead to more information.

The suspect was identified at Canal Walk where, after security was alerted, he was apprehended by private security and detained until police arrived.

I urge the broader public to follow this excellent example of being safety conscious and working with security, law enforcement and the police in creating safer environments in our province.

I trust that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be encouraged by the response received to their call for assistance from the public and continue to partner with the public in apprehending the suspects still at large.

May this arrest serve as a warning to suspects and would be criminals that the SAPS, the Western Cape Government, safety stakeholders and the public at large stand united against crime in the Western Cape. We will work together and suspects will be caught.