Heritage Day Cape Town 2026: Five events to check out this Thursday

Three minor suspects were among at least 11 individuals arrested in Cape Town over the past five weeks for alleged smash-and-grab incidents, according to police reports. The latest arrests took place on Saturday near Borchard’s Quarry Road and Bahrain Drive, where one of the minors was found in possession of the victim's stolen cellphone.

Police were alerted around 1:40pm and saw three suspects fleeing in various directions before apprehending all three. The minors were handed over to Bishop Lavis SAPS, and the Social Development department was notified. They are expected to face charges related to theft out of a motor vehicle, malicious damage to property, and possession of stolen property.

This brings the total number of suspected smash-and-grab offenders arrested in the past five weeks to at least 11. The City of Cape Town has reported 246 smash-and-grab incidents in the 2025/26 financial year, with many more potential cases not reported. Hotspots for these incidents include Jakes Gerwel Drive between the N2 and Bofors Circle, as well as Epping Avenue and Jan van Riebeeck Drive in and around Elsies River.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, stated that increased resources, including drones to supplement the camera network and ground officers, have been deployed to combat these crimes. Despite these efforts, random and opportunistic crimes continue to pose a challenge, and public safety remains a concern. The City has conducted 33 drone operations this year on the N2 freeway.