On Sunday night 23 April an armed robbery in Atlantis spilled over into Melkbosstrand. Read the official report by the Melkbosstrand Neighbourhood Watch below.

1. 19h41: Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team was informed of an armed robbery in Atlantis – suspect vehicle was on Atlantis Road heading towards R27 – Licence Plate Recognition Management Team requested Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch and Police to be on standby for road closure on R27 Melkbosstrand Access Road.

2. 19h43: Suspect vehicle went off the R27 at Atlantis turnoff – suspect abandoned vehicle and started running through Koeberg Reserve.

3. 19h58: Morningstar Plotwatch and Green Platoon were requested to assist at scene of vehicle and to initiate tracking of suspects. 1 Suspect was confirmed heading toward Melkbosstrand.

4. Ongoing communication between Morningstar Plotwatch/Green Platoon Tracking Team and Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Response Team/Police/Law Enforcement Marine Unit Member.

5. 22h00: confirmation sent that suspect was spotted alongside R27 just before Duynefontein turnoff. Suspect described as B/M without shirt and shoes – possibly armed as he earlier fired shots on Atlantis police.

6. 22h02: Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team, Law Enforcement Marine Unit member took position on Southern side of Duynefontein turnoff and on Otto du Plessis to close area off.

7. 22h33: Losperd Crescent resident reported seeing the suspect running through Losperd Crescent, Duynefontein Greenbelt, past May Crescent in direction of Napoleon and Atlantic Ave intersection.

8. Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team, Green Platoon, Morningstar Plotwatch, SAPS Melkbosstrand, SAPS K9, SAPS Flying Squad, SAPS Airwing, Atlantis Police, Avenue Response Team, Law Enforcement Marine Unit member narrowed the area around Waldeck Crescent, Raymond Crescent, Otto du Plessis, bush area behind Raymond and Waldeck Crescent, Napoleon drive and Atlantic drive.

9. At this time more Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response volunteers/patrollers assisted with patrolling the area in vehicles.

10. A resident of Waldeck Crescent spotted the suspect running through his property and jumping over the wall of the property into the bush area behind Waldeck Crescent.

11. Members of Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team and Green Platoon followed the suspect’s spoor alongside the wall behind Waldeck Crescent in the direction of Napoleon/Samuel Crescent.

12. At this point the spoor indicated the suspect had jumped back over the wall into another Waldeck Crescent property.

13. Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team Member and Green Platoon spotted the suspect hiding behind the wall in the property of Waldeck Crescent.

14. At this time the suspect started running and was spotted by the resident as he ran around the house. Police at this point had arrived at the gate of the property resulting in the suspect running to the back of the property and again jumped the wall into the Raymond Crescent property – Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team member and Green Platoon were still in pursuit of the suspect.

15. 23h30: Following a brief search suspect was found hiding under the vehicle in the Raymond Crescent property. He was apprehended by the Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch Response Team member and Green Platoon member and handed over to Police.

16. Suspect was transported back to Atlantis Police for processing.