Man Arrested For Stealing Laptop From Bellville-South Police Station

A man who allegedly broke into the Bellville-South Police Station and stole a laptop and other items has been arrested after attempting to sell the stolen goods.

Break-In Using a Spade

The suspect is believed to have used a spade to pry open a window and gain access to an office inside the police station. He reportedly committed the burglary in the early hours of Friday, 7 March 2025, at around 12:45 am.

After a police investigation, officers tracked him down and arrested him earlier this week.

Video Shows His Arrest

A video of his arrest shows a police officer questioning him in Afrikaans about the missing laptop. At first, the suspect denies any knowledge of the crime, but when confronted, he begins to tjank (cry).

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The spade he allegedly used in the break-in was also recovered and can be seen lying on a bench in the video. At one point, the officer asks him: “Moet ek die graaf haal?” (Should I fetch the spade?), to which the man responds, “Nee, meneer” (No, sir) and starts wailing even louder.

Police Confirm Arrest

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the man was arrested within days of the break-in.

“Bellville-South Police arrested an adult male on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, in connection with the theft of a laptop and other items, which were recovered,” said Van Wyk.

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“Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect entered the station unnoticed and stole the items. Officers later received information that he was trying to sell the laptop, which led to his arrest.”

The suspect has since appeared in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court and remains in custody. This incident is part of a worrying trend—according to a 2023 Police and Oversight report, 81 police stations in the Western Cape have been burgled or broken into since 2018.

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