The acting station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Colonel Baba Mpotoane, has urged landlords in Ivory Park and all of its precincts to get to know their tenants, as this could go a long way in assisting the police to arrest criminals before they commit crimes.
Colonel Mpotoane made this appeal as one of his police officers, with the help of the community, arrested a 29-year-old man for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition on Thursday last week in Ivory Park, Extension 2.
It turned out the suspect was renting a room, but his landlord had never seen him going to work.
“Landlords must check out the background of any potential tenant, demand to know their details and what they do for a living. It should not be about business alone,” said Colonel Mpotoane.
Following a tip-off from the community, Sergeant Lydia “Ace” Tlhotse, the arresting officer, who also happened to be the sector manager of that area, paid a nocturnal visit to the suspect and found him in possession of the firearm.
The suspect’s firearm apparently came to the community’s attention due to his tendency to fire randomly.
Sergeant Tlhotse, together with members of the community, recovered two firearms and live rounds of ammunition.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court to face a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
