'Crime-saving' SUEZ crew praised after helping police apprehend suspected burglar

The SUEZ Southend recycling crew were carrying out their routine collection round when they spotted an individual behaving suspiciously in a residential area. The person, wearing a balaclava, moving between gardens and climbing over fences, immediately raised concerns. Recognising that something wasn’t right, the crew acted swiftly and responsibly by calling 999.

While waiting for officers to arrive, the team kept the suspect in sight, providing real-time updates to the police. When officers reached the scene, the crew were able to direct them straight to the individual’s exact location. The suspect was arrested, and the situation was brought under control within approximately 20 minutes of the initial emergency call. The daughter of an elderly resident whose garden was involved later contacted SUEZ to thank the team. Her mother had been inside the property at the time and was said to be very shaken by the incident.

“We are extremely proud of our team for their quick thinking and actions that may have prevented a crime from happening in our local community" said James Gatter, Southend Contract Manager.

Councillor Martin Terry, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, described the crew as 'crime-saving' heroes. He said: "I want to pay tribute to the waste and recycling crew whose quick thinking and vigilance helped bring this incident to a safe conclusion."

Councillor Lydia Hyde, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment, and Waste, said: "Our crews are out across the city every single working day. Their awareness of what's happening in our neighbourhoods makes them an invaluable set of eyes and ears in keeping Southend safe. I'm incredibly proud of the team."

Keywords

#SUEZ in the UK #United Kingdom #Southend-on-Sea City Council #Recycling #Employees #Crime prevention