The arrests at the weekend bring to at least 11 the number of smash-and-grab suspects arrested over the past five weeks. The arrests underpin ongoing City efforts to safeguard Cape Town’s highway network and other major arterial routes.
On Saturday, 19 September 2026, at approximately 13:40, Metro Police officers were alerted to a smash and grab on Borchard’s Quarry Road and Bahrain Drive.
On arrival, three suspects fled in different directions, but officers were quick to apprehend them – one of whom was found in possession of the driver’s cellphone.
It emerged that the suspects are minors – they were handed over to Bishop Lavis SAPS and Social Development was notified. They will face charges of theft out of a motor vehicle, malicious damage to property and possession of stolen property.
9 September: A suspect who attacked a motorist on Jakes Gerwel Drive was arrested in Langa, after being identified through CCTV.
2 September, five smash-and-grab suspects were arrested in Elsies River during a joint operation with SAPS, supported by the City’s drone team.
In August, the City’s enforcement services arrested two suspects for smash-and-grab incidents along the N2, as part of the dedicated freeway safety deployment.
In the first eight months of this year (January to August), officers issued just over 70 000 fines on the N1, N2, N7 and R300.
In addition, they:
arrested 181 motorists for drunk driving and 32 for reckless and negligent driving
suspended 327 vehicles for being unroadworthy.
assisted 4 521 motorists whose vehicles had broken down
attended to 664 accident scenes
charged 2 045 pedestrians for walking on the freeway
Overall, crime incidents from Aug 2025 to Aug 2026 (12 months) dropped by approximately 60%.
The dedicated deployment of Traffic and Metro Police Officers across the highway network is supported by the Freeway Management System camera network, ad hoc patrols by area enforcement and drone flights to support operations. In this year so far, 33 drone operations have taken place on the N2.
‘We’ve continued to enhance our freeway management measures, both through increased human resources and by also introducing drone flights to augment our existing camera network and supporting efforts on the ground. This has resulted in fewer incidents of a criminal nature, but random, opportunistic crimes remain a challenge, and we acknowledge that safety remains a concern for the public,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Smash-and-grab crimes are also present on other parts of the road network – in the 2025/26 financial year, the City’s CCTV network detected 246 smash-and-grab incidents.
While Jakes Gerwel Drive between the N2 and Bofors Circle remains a hotspot, the location of incidents reported to the Public Emergency Communication Centre highlight Elsies River and surrounds as areas to watch, particularly Epping Avenue and Jan Van Riebeeck Drive.
‘We do not have a full picture of the extent of smash-and-grab incidents, as many incidents go unreported. We are using available data to help shape deployment and operations in partnership with SAPS to track down perpetrators where possible, as was successfully done recently in Elsies River and Langa. But the reality is that criminals will continue their brazen ways, particularly where they can make a quick getaway, which is what many of the hotspots offer,’ added Alderman Smith.
The City reminds motorists that they can help reduce the risk of smash-and-grab incidents.
- Keep valuables out of sight and not on seats inside the vehicle – put them in the boot or underneath the seat, making sure it's not visible
- Lock all doors and close windows
- Be cautious, be vigilant, and be aware of your surroundings
- Be wary of people loitering about at traffic lights or intersections
- Be aware of people attempting to give you pamphlets or sell you goods as not all are legitimate vendors
- If you spot persons loitering at busy intersections, please report it to the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre so that officers can respond proactively.
The number is 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
Road Safety and Preventing Smash-and-Grab