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Three wanted suspects, masquerading as City of Cape Town officials to infiltrate homes, were arrested after a swift and coordinated response by the Atlantic Seaboard Response (ASB) Group last week.
Their attempt to burglarise a Camps Bay property was foiled, marking the end of their spree that stretched across Camps Bay, Manenberg, and Kuils River.
ASB founder Jacques Weber detailed the dramatic sequence of events per Cape Argus, saying that the suspects posed as City meter readers to gain access to a residence in Camps Bay.
Once inside, they swiped a laptop, phone, and wallet before fleeing the scene. Within minutes, ASB broadcasted an alert to all security providers and law enforcement units. Less than an hour later, the suspect’s vehicle was spotted in Walmer Estate, Woodstock. Officers moved swiftly, pulling the car over and taking all three into custody—two who had entered the home and the driver who waited outside.
However, the suspects had already sold the stolen goods, leaving no physical evidence to tie them directly to the Camps Bay heist. And with the robbery case not yet logged with SAPS, it seemed they might slip through the cracks. But their luck had run out.
However, Weber said the group were allegedly linked to another incident, which secured the arrest.
“This incident closely matched a widely shared case on Facebook from earlier in the week, in which the same suspects allegedly assaulted and robbed an elderly lady in Manenberg.
“Once this connection was made, the Atlantic Seaboard Response Group was determined not to let the suspects walk free and took decisive action to link the cases, ensuring SAPS would proceed with the arrest.”
The evidence was compelling. With confirmation that the same crew was behind both crimes, senior SAPS officials authorised law enforcement to detain the suspects.
Law enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason commended the rapid response: “On February 22, 2025, officers patrolling Woodstock acted on intelligence from the ASB community group, tracking and apprehending the suspects in Walmer Estate. Earlier that day, the trio had stolen valuables from a Camps Bay residence using their impersonation scam. Further investigation connected them to similar incidents in Kuils River, Manenberg, and Walmer Estate.”
The suspects are now in custody, facing multiple charges, as authorities continue to investigate the full extent of their crime spree.
For Cape Town residents, this takedown serves as a reminder to stay vigilant and verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent the City.
[Source: Cape Argus]
