A Middelburg resident’s stolen work laptop has led to a swift arrest after the Middelburg Observer published a photo of the suspect, which the victim pulled from CCTV camera footage. Three other suspects are still at large.

Simphiwe Radebe said the theft took place at a shopping centre on February 11 while he briefly stopped in town. On returning to his vehicle, he discovered his Lenovo ThinkPad laptop missing, even though he was certain he had locked the car with the remote control.

Radebe explained that the crime involved a group of four, “One ran up to my vehicle and slightly opened the back door without me noticing. When I left, another took the laptop and passed it to someone else, who casually walked away with it under his T-shirt toward the taxi rank and into town,” he said.

After the Observer published the article and CCTV image on Monday, Radebe received 39 calls from the public, which helped Middelburg police track down and arrest one suspect.

According to Radebe, the individual was wearing the same T-shirt as captured in the CCTV footage. He is scheduled to appear in court today (Thursday).

The three other suspects involved in the theft remain at large.

Radebe is urging anyone who has more information to contact him on 073 655 8340 or report information to the Middelburg Police Station.