CRIME WRAP

V Kensington: Crime prevention and tracing operations conducted in the area from Thursday 13 to Wednesday 19 September led to the arrests of 46 suspects, among them wanted suspects for murder and attempted murder. Other crimes included possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, robbery, assault, housebreaking and theft, intimidation and theft from a motor vehicle. “The area was flooded by various Law Enforcement agencies, working in tandem to combat crime and ensure the safety of the community,” says police spokesperson, Sergeant Angeline Grill.

V Kensington: Under Operation Combat, officers doing routine patrols in the area arrested two suspects in possession of a firearm after receiving information. This brings to three the number of firearms removed from the streets and suspects arrested for the illegal possession thereof.

V Kensington: In a separate incident, while on patrol, police officials confiscated a shotgun. Another firearm was seized after police received information of a suspicious-looking vehicle. Officers found the vehicle abandoned but upon closer inspection found the suspect under the vehicle in possession of the firearm.

V Woodstock: Police recently executed a multidisciplinary operation at known and suspected drug outlets in the precinct and arrested various suspects on drug-related charges. During the operation in the Mascani informal settlement, officers apprehended 20 undocumented people, two women for possession of dagga and a man for dealing in and possession of drugs and confiscated a plastic bag containing 6g of tik. In Wright Street police seized 11 packets of tik and four Mandrax tablets found abandoned and arrested a man in possession of dagga. Later during the operation, police arrested a suspect for possession of dagga. They also executed three crime prevention patrols in hotspot areas in the vicinity of Gympie, Cornwall, Albert and Victoria roads. Community members and residents looked on and appreciated the activities in and around the problematic sector. This form of approach will be ongoing in the precinct, police say. All the suspects arrested have appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.

V Observatory: While patrolling the area recently, Woodstock police spotted a white Toyota Avanza in Station Road, with five occupants. Police say the occupants started acting suspiciously when officers attempted to stop their vehicle. A short chase through Oshion Road ended up in Klipfontein Road in Athlone, where the vehicle was cornered. The men jumped out and attempted to flee but the quick reaction of the responding members led to the apprehension of all five men. Police searched the car and recovered a flat-screen TV, a laptop, computer accessories and various items of electrical equipment. All the suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property. According to spokesperson, Sergeant Hilton Malila, the suspects were linked to a burglary in Willow Road in Observatory where they allegedly forced open a sliding door and took all the items. “The detective will oppose bail in order to see if they can be linked to other burglaries in the area,” says Malila. He says the suspects will face charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, reckless and negligent driving and possession of dangerous weapons. Police management commended the officers for their vigilance.