“Phenomenal Work”: Man Praises Mall Security After Lost Phone Is Tracked Down With CCTV, SA Wowed

• Peter Booth left his mobile phone on the roof of his car at a busy turning circle near Watercrest Mall and only realised it was missing hours later
• Watercrest Mall Security officers used CCTV footage to trace the phone's path and identify the person who picked it up
• Security officer Stanley and supervisor Mdlalose went the extra mile to recover the device, and South Africans online praised the team's honesty and dedication

Peter Booth had already written off his phone when Watercrest Mall Security in Durban pulled off something he did not expect. On 31 August 2026, Peter placed his mobile phone on the roof of his car near the mall's turning circle and drove off, completely forgetting it was there. Hours passed before he realised what had happened.

When he tried to sort things out at his bank, he found it was closed and headed home with little hope of seeing the device again. What he did not know was that the mall's security team had already swung into action.

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How the CCTV footage cracked the case

Security officers reviewed camera footage from the area and watched the phone slide off the roof of Booth's moving vehicle. The footage also captured a passerby picking it up. Armed with that lead, security officer Stanley and supervisor Mdlalose tracked down the individual and successfully recovered the device.

The team did not stop there. They put the phone on a charger before handing it back to a relieved Peter. Despite being run over by several cars, the phone came back to him virtually undamaged.

See the original Watercrest Mall Facebook post that sparked the praise below:

Mzansi reacts to the Watercrest Mall security team

The story quickly warmed hearts across social media, with South Africans flooding the Watercrest Mall's Facebook account, praising the team.

@Carla Krause said:

"Well done to Stanley and his security team! 🙏👊 Phenomenal work!"

@Ann Groves Bishop shared:

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"Restores your faith in people."

@Rose Kemp added:

"How wonderful. Lovely to hear of honest and sincere people in the world."

@Anil Sewpersad reacted:

"Great story to read! Well done! Stories like this make me think there is still hope for our beautiful country 👏👏."

@Vaneela Jude said:

"Awe, so lovely to hear a positive story. Well done ❤️."

@Shivash Pillay shared:

"Over and beyond, salute to that team 🤜😎."

3 Briefly News articles about acts of kindness

• A South African man went viral after taking to social media to share how he drove behind a woman walking alone at night to ensure she reached her destination safely after she declined his offer for a ride.
• Briefly News reported that a man in a wheelchair provided a vital lifeline by taking in his elderly neighbour's cats for vaccination, travelling from Hanover Park to Phillippi.
• Durban chef Ayakha Godlwana was honoured by KIBA for his bravery after rushing into a burning restaurant to rescue trapped staff members.

Source: Briefly News