An accused on bail for impersonating a police officer was again arrested for the same offence and possession of police uniforms and ammunition on November 17 in Ivory Park.
According to Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Sello, in recent weeks, the South African Police Service in Gauteng launched a manhunt for blue light robbers and suspects who used police uniforms to commit robberies in the province.
As a result, she said, over 50 suspects were arrested since March this year for charges ranging from impersonating a police officer, possession of police uniforms and equipment, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as for hijacking vehicles and trucks.
“On November 17, Johannesburg North Crime Intelligence dispatched information to highway patrol members about a suspect who was in possession of police uniforms and allegedly involved in truck hijackings in and around Gauteng,” she added.
“The team members, who were on rest days, convened and headed to Ivory Park Ext 13 in the Ekurhuleni District.”
Sello said that during the raid, the members recovered SAPS and Tshwane Metro police uniforms, three AK47 rifle magazines, two R1 rifle magazines, one pistol magazine and over 100 rounds of ammunition as well as a signal jammer. “The suspect was arrested and charged with possession of a signal jammer, possession of SAPS and Metro police uniforms and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
“Upon preliminary profiling of the suspect, it was discovered that he is currently on bail for impersonating a police officer, attempted truck hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.”
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela welcomed the arrest. “We have declared to the inhabitants of Gauteng during the launch of Safer Festive Season operations that, together with our partners, we will tighten the operating space for criminals.”
He added, “Trio crimes that include hijackings are violent in nature and we have to reduce them drastically.”
Mawela concluded that they were starting to see successes due to more vehicles on the highways, thanks to the Gauteng government’s recent donation of high-performance vehicles.
Details: Gauteng Provincial Police 011 274 7300.
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