Crime in Brief

From October 14 to 19, Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) and Rapid Response Services (RRS) arrested 108 suspects.

Arrests
• On October 14, Sergeant Jaco Powell and Warrant Officer Jabulani Khumalo of the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) assisted with the arrest of a 45-year-old man, shortly after the Ford Bantam bakkie he was travelling in was involved in an accident.

According to Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, the officers received an alert via the Edenvale CPF group that the bakkie had been hijacked.

Responding to the call further updates were received stating that local security as well as CPF members were able to apprehend the suspect after he lost control of the vehicle on Linksfield Road.

• Powell and Khumalo continued their service, once again assisting in bringing a 26-year-old motorcycle rider to book.

At 18:00 the officers received information from a Benoni-based security company about a motorcycle which had been flagged as wanted.

The rider and his steed were brought to a stop on Great North Road and investigations revealed that both the number plate and license disc had been falsified.

Possession of drugs
• Six suspects, aged 25 to 34, were arrested in Thembisa, Ivory Park and Mayfield for possession of drugs.
Meth, cocaine and heroin were confiscated.

• Two men aged 37 and 39, were arrested on October 17 on the N12.
According to Giblin, BFS officers conducted a routine stop-and-search when they spotted a white Ford Ranger towing a white Toyota Fortuner.

A search of the vehicles led to the discovery of 20 sealed plastic bags of dagga, with an estimated value of R20 000.

The 37-year-old foreign national was immediately arrested on charges of being in possession of drugs.

The second suspect was arrested shortly after he offered officers R2 000 in exchange for the 37-year-old’s release.

Stolen vehicle
A 37-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Kempton Road, Kempton Park on October 18.

A tracking company had tracked a silver Renault Kwid to the property after it was reported as stolen in Norkem Park.

Hijacked vehicle
Two men, traveling in a blue BMW 3-series were arrested in Pretoria Road, Benoni, on October 19.

BFS officers assisted a private security company after the vehicle was flagged for carrying false number plates.

Investigations found that the vehicle had been reported as hijacked in Vereeniging, in May.

The two occupants, aged 36 and 43, were arrested on the scene.

RRS
Flying Squad, K9 Unit and Highway Patrol members, which form part of Gauteng RRS, participated in concentrated operations which saw 95 criminals being brought to book.

• Forty-four people were arrested on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, armed and common robbery, fraud, theft, possession of stolen property, possession of house burglary equipment, housebreaking, use of motor vehicle without owner’s consent, damage to property, kidnapping, murder, business burglary, hijacking, hindering in the carrying out of official duties, crimen injuria, contravention of a protection order, contravention of the immigration act, attempted theft of motor vehicle as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

• Eleven suspects were arrested on charges of being in possession of stolen vehicles,

• Forty-nine hijacked and stolen vehicles were recovered.

• Further operations led to the recovery of eight unlicensed firearms, six suspects were arrested on charges of being in possession of these weapons.

• Heroin, dagga, cocaine, Mandrax and meth were also recovered accompanied by 34 arrests.

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