Quick thinking and swift reactions by Campus Protection Services (CPS) and an alert student led to the apprehension and arrest of five suspects last week.

In the first incident, the CCTV surveillance operators noticed a suspicious vehicle in Chapel Road, stopping at various Toyota Conquests parked in the area.

CPS officers were dispatched to monitor the vehicle and apprehended the two suspects in the P1 area after they tried to break into a vehicle.

After being handed over to the Rondebosch SAPS, it was discovered that the suspects had criminal records and outstanding warrants of arrests.

In the second incident, a student who had been mugged near the Baxter noticed his muggers in the Main Road.

The student reported this to Burnage and officers were dispatched. The three suspects were later apprehended in the parking area of a Rondebosch shopping centre and were positively identified by the student.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had been involved in other muggings in the area but that students had failed to report these incidents to CPS.

"These incidents indicate the importance of reporting all crimes to us as soon as possible," said Alain Snyman, CPS deputy operations manager. "It allows us to react promptly and improves our awareness of what is going on around us."

Woodstock Police have informed CPS of an alarming number of vehicles being stolen in the Anzio and Falmouth Roads region. Police reports indicate that approximately 40 vehicles (mostly Toyota Corollas and Conquests) have been stolen in this area between March 1 and 19.

"We have not received any reports of vehicle thefts in this area from staff or students. Even though it is officially an off-campus area, we urge members of the university community to notify us so that we are aware of crime hot spots and are able to assist the police," Snyman added.

CPS have been informed that a SAPS vehicle theft task unit has been established in the Woodstock/Rondebosch area.