Policemen together with Station Commander Lieutenant Colonel Moses Maepa, followed information and arrested and charged five suspects.

Robert Ntsatha (30) was arrested in Avalon after he led the police to a loaded firearm he was hiding on the roof of a shack. He was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Not far from where the firearm was recovered, 20 year old Mahlatse Molapo, was arrested for possession of drugs when two bags of dagga were allegedly found in his room during a search.

In Extension 5 Bafana Mashifane was arrested after he was found with dagga.

“Neighbours and some parents hailed the police for the operation as they said they are tired of living among criminals,” said Col Maepa.

However one mother attempted to hide her son from the police when he was being sought for questioning.

Her son hid in between the base and mattress in her bedroom while she sat on the bed and claimed her son was not home. The police looked around the house, they noticed the bed was lopsided and discovered that the son was the cause of the crooked bed, he was arrested and charged.

During the operation, more information was received that there were items that were suspected to have been stolen from a business premises in Middelburg. New tyres and a car audio system were recovered.

Two more males, Ntokozo Mthumunye (26) and Sifiso Nene (30), were arrested in Extension 5 for a robbery they allegedly committed in December 2015.

They were charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances. A fake firearm and knifes that were used to commit the crimes were also recovered.

Colonel Maepa declared the operation a great success.

“We will leave no stone unturned in the fight against crime.When we receive information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, we follow it up because there is no smoke without fire. We will put out all the fires as long as community members alert us to all the smoke they see,” he added.

All five suspects appeared in court last week Friday.