• A 35-year-old male was arrested on January 25 on two counts of dealing in dagga and drugs, possession of drugs and being an illegal immigrant in Vos Street, Rensburg.
The Heidelberg SAPS Crime Prevention Team led by WO Johannes Lukas Wolmarans received information from the community about a man selling drugs and growing dagga in his yard.
Police were greeted by dagga plants all around the yard when they arrived at the address. Police found 14 ziplock bags containing drugs after searching the property. Police uprooted the dagga plants and seized the drugs found.
Upon further interviewing of the suspect, it was detected that he is a foreign national and in the country without papers. The suspect was arrested and will appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court soon.
• Also on January 25, a 39-year-old male suspect employed at a butchery in Heidelberg was arrested for faking a hijacking incident.
It is alleged that on January 16 at 6.20pm, the victim stopped at an Engen filling station to buy cooldrink. He alleged that when he was on his way out, a white VW Golf GTI with an unknown registration number blocked his way.
One of the occupants of the Golf came to him, jumped into his vehicle, pointed a firearm at him and ordered him to drive towards R23 Heidelberg until he was directed to join the Lagerspoort Road towards Valpré Water. He was ordered to stop. The suspect allegedly dragged him into the field, tied his hands and feet with black tape, assaulted him and took money from his pockets, a Huawei P30, bank cards and left him unconscious.
Thorough interviews and investigations by Det Sgt Musa Sidwell Maluleke, Det Sgt Nkosana Sibanyoni and the assistance of the butchery owner and management led to the discovery that no hijacking had occurred and that the incident was faked. The suspect was immediately arrested.
The Quality Meat Butchery owner advised that he was very concerned about the safety of his formal employee when the incident was reported.
• An arrest was made on January 26 when a 25-year-old male suspect was arrested for possession of drugs at the the corner of Walker and Loveday streets in Rensburg.
Heidelberg SAPS Crime Prevention group WO Frank Mnqosini, Const Bongani Mtshweni and Const Phumzile Sibanda were patrolling and conducting a stop-and-search when they spotted a suspicious young man walking along the street. Police stopped him and requested to conduct a body search. Nyaope was found in the suspect’s shirt chest pocket and he was arrested. He will appear in Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court soon.
• On January 27, the Gauteng Flying Squad Germiston Unit foiled a hijacking along R42 Heidelberg Nigel Road. Thomas Mabitsela and Sgt Thabiso Machubene were patrolling the N3 freeway when they spotted a suspicious-looking silver/grey Mercedes-Benz on the side of the road with two men standing next to it. Police stopped and enquired if there is a problem.
The two men responded that there was a mechanical problem. Police requested to search the two men. The two men ran away towards Bergsig suburb. Police gave chase on foot but the suspects jumped fences and disappeared into the Bergsig residential area. When the officer proceeded to patrol to see if they could catch the suspects, they came across a man along Angelier Street who reported that he was hijacked of his Mercedes.
Police took the victim to the Mercedes along the freeway, which he confirmed as being his vehicle. Police searched the vehicle and found a firearm.
A hijacking case was opened at Heidelberg Police Station for further investigations. No arrests have been made.
The community is asked to inform police of the whereabouts of the suspects involved in this incident by using the MySAPSApp, calling Crime Stop (08600 10111), sending an SMS to the crime line (32211) or at their nearest police station.
• Also on January 27, Heidelberg SAPS arrested a suspect in Shalimar Ridge for possession of drugs.
Police received a tip-off that a man was selling drugs behind a shopping complex in Shalimar Ridge. Upon arrival at the address, police found multiple bicycles in the suspect’s room. The man could not provide a satisfactory explanation of where the bicycles came from. After continuing their search of the house, police found drugs and the man was arrested for possession of drugs.
The suspect could not produce his passport and an additional charge of illegal immigrant was added.
He will appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court soon.
Police are requesting that Heidelberg community members’ whose bicycles have been stolen to visit the Heidelberg Police Station to identify their property.
Heidelberg SAPS station commander Col Phiwe Ndwandwe congratulated police members in building trust and confidence in the community in the fight against crime as well as removing drugs from the streets.
