A B Secure security Officer, stationed at an upmarket residential apartment in the Cape Town CBD, noticed a man exit the building in the early hours of the morning. The man was carrying electronic equipment and was not recognised as a resident in the apartment building. He was approached by our security officer and questioned as to what he was doing with the said items. The man stated that he had met a friend at a local entertainment venue earlier that evening and had been invited to his apartment for a few late night drinks. The man stated that his friend had asked him to load the electronic goods into his car for him and return to the apartment. The guard, becoming increasingly suspicious, asked the man to contact his friend in the building so that he could confirm the man’s explanation. The man informed the guard that his friend was sleeping and attempted to separate himself from the guard by stating that he would return to the apartment so that he could awaken the friend whilst the guard watched over the items. Our officer refused the offer and accompanied the man to the apartment. The B Secure guard knocked on the door and called out to the tenant who failed to answer. He immediately contacted B Secure management and informed them of the situation. Our manager arrived on the scene and carried out a search on the suspect. He discovered a key to a luxury motor vehicle; a wallet containing credit cards belonging to the tenant; a cellular phone; silver jewellery; apartment keys and numerous personal items belonging to the tenant. Our manager contacted the SAPS and entered the apartment, fearing that the tenant had been harmed during the robbery, using the keys retrieved from the suspect. He discovered a man in a semi conscious state lying on his bed. The man appeared to have been drugged and was not fully coherent. The B Secure manager, a qualified Advanced Life Support paramedic, carried out a full medical examination of the victim and established that he would be alright. The suspect was taken into custody when police arrived and a case of theft was opened against him by the tenant the following day.
The suspect in this instance was offered the perfect opportunity to commit the crime. The man he met at a nearby bar invited him to have drinks with him in his apartment. The victim led the man into the apartment building through a service entrance and failed to sign the guest register with the security officer on duty. The suspect drugged the man before making off with his car keys and other valuable items.
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