THE garden tools and air conditioning units that had been stolen from a church on the corner of Sarnia Road and Church Lane near Seaview, on October 18, were recovered during a joint operation between Blue Security officers and the police.

According to a statement from Blue Security, their control centre responded to a call about the suspects who were in the process of removing air-conditioning units from the church’s premises.

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Earlier in the day, the same individuals had allegedly stolen several other items, including:

• The church’s koi pond pump
• Garden tools
• A brush cutter
• Chainsaw.

“Blue Security’s quick-thinking response teams, working in co-ordination with Bellair police, apprehended a suspect and recovered stolen property following a house break-in incident at a local church.

“Blue Security’s tactical command centre immediately dispatched armed response officers and the specialised Blue K9 Unit to the scene. Upon arrival, officers apprehended one suspect, who attempted to flee,” said the statement.

Following questioning, the suspect led the officers to a secondary location where all the stolen items were found. The goods were subsequently recovered and transported to Bellair police for booking. The suspect was handed over to police for further processing.

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Keith du Randt, Blue Security’s community manager for the area, commended the swift teamwork between units.

“This incident demonstrates the value of having trained, co-ordinated teams ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Our officers acted decisively, not only apprehending the suspect but ensuring the stolen property was recovered in full. The collaboration between our control centre, K9 Unit, and SAPS was seamless, and we are proud to support our community in keeping places of worship and local institutions safe,” said Blue Security in a statement.

Blue Security extended its appreciation to Bellair police for their assistance and to the vigilant community members who continue to play an important role in reporting suspicious activity.

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