SAPS units continue to crack the whip on criminals

From December 1 to 7, members of the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) and provincial Rapid Response Services (RRS) arrested 73 suspects.

Here is a round-up of the week’s successes:

Drunken driving
Two motorists were arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Arrests were made on Atlas Road as well as the N12 between Snake Road and the Kingsway off-ramps.

The drivers were charged with reckless and negligent driving.

Vehicles recovered
A Hino truck was found abandoned on the corner of the R562 and Republic Road, Ivory Park. It was reportedly hijacked in Centurion.

A silver Peugeot was found on the M57, next to Indlela. It was stolen in Ivory Park.

RRS successes
RRS units, which include members of the Flying Squad, K9 and Highway Patrol units, arrested 71 throughout Gauteng.

Concentrated operations led to the arrest of 37 suspects on charges of assault with the intent of causing grievous bodily harm, being in the country illegally, business burglary, robbery, possession of suspected stolen goods, outstanding warrants, sexual assault, fraud, contravention of a protection order, reckless and negligent driving as well as driving under the influence, possession of a protected plant species without a permit and possession of housebreaking implements.

Two people were arrested for being in possession of stolen vehicles, while 28 hijacked and stolen vehicles were recovered.

Four unlicensed firearms were recovered accompanied by nine arrests for possession.

Further policing led to the arrest of 23 suspects on charges of being in possession of drugs with the intent to sell.

Heroin, dagga, cocaine, Mandrax and meth were confiscated.

Bodies recovered
Divers from the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services were deployed to three separate incidents, which resulted in the recovery of three bodies.

• On December 4, Tshwane members attended a scene in Hammanskraal recovering the body of an unknown male in an advanced stage of decomposition from the Apies River.

• Sedibeng divers were deployed to Lakeside Dam, Orange Farm, on December 6.

“It was alleged that an unknown woman had gone for an early morning swim and never returned, leaving her clothing on the side of the dam,” said Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, BFS spokesperson.

“Following a thorough search, the body was retrieved.”

• Ekurhuleni members responded to a call where a body was found at the outlet of a stormwater pipe, at Kaboom Street, Croydon.

“The unknown man had personal possessions and belongings with him, which led members to believe he could have been sleeping in the pipe,” said Giblin.

Inquest dockets are under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding these cases is encouraged to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

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