Thabiso Captuex is being hailed a hero after the Fidelity security officer chased down an alleged thief caught stealing from a vehicle at Fourways Mall, helping lead to the suspect’s arrest and the recovery of stolen belongings.

The KZN-born officer has received praise from community members online for his bravery and quick response after the dramatic incident unfolded while he was patrolling the newly revamped shopping centre.

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For Captuex, protecting people is more than just a job.
He said growing up, he had always dreamed of becoming a police officer or correctional services official, but life circumstances eventually led him into the security industry instead.

Despite this, he said he still takes pride in serving the community and tackling crime head-on.

“This work means a lot to me because I’ve always wanted to protect people, and this is what I still do to date.”

According to Captuex, theft out of motor vehicles has been an ongoing concern around the shopping centre, prompting security teams to remain highly vigilant to ensure shoppers feel safe.

He said while patrolling the mall, he noticed suspicious activity near parked vehicles before allegedly spotting a suspect removing belongings from a car.

Captuex immediately sprang into action and began chasing the suspect.

“He [suspect] changed his top after disappearing for a while. With backup on the scene, we continued monitoring the area and searching for him. When he returned, he was wearing a vest because when I first chased him, he had been wearing a T-shirt.”

With assistance from fellow security personnel, the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the police.

The victim,Jessica Ruth, later took to social media to thank the security teams at Fourways Mall and Fidelity for their efforts.

Ruth said the suspect allegedly fled into the mall before later returning to a vehicle parked next to hers in a different outfit.

“Security still recognised him, tracked him down, apprehended him and held him until police arrived.”

She said what stood out most to her was the pride and relief among the security guards after the suspect was caught.

“They celebrated, and there was a sense of relief and victory in the air.”

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Ruth also highlighted the challenges security officers face in dealing with sophisticated criminals, revealing that her vehicle had allegedly been targeted twice within two months despite no valuables being visible inside.

“When the police finally showed up and took our statements, I was able to retake possession of what was stolen from my car from the suspect’s car. This time I actually got my stolen items back.”

Captuex said he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from the community since the incident.

“I’m grateful for the support from the community. People appreciated what I did, and that really means a lot to me.”

Although he is now receiving recognition for his actions, Captuex said he sees his role in the security industry as a stepping stone towards achieving an even bigger dream.

“The future looks good for me. I want to continue growing and hopefully one day officially join the ranks of law enforcement.”

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