Bogus cops unnerve KZN family

Business owner Mohammed Dawood said he and his family were at home on Sunday, March 22, when an unmarked bakkie without number plates pulled into his driveway at about 8.30pm. The vehicle reportedly had a flashing blue light on the dashboard and was parked in the driveway for about five minutes, North Coast Courier reported.

“I kept an eye on the car from upstairs where we were sitting. The bakkie switched on the blue light every few minutes, and I thought it was very strange. When the bakkie started hooting, I decided to go down and see what was going on,” Dawood said.

He added five men dressed in police uniform told him they were from the Durban Organised Crime Unit and that an employee of his was suspected of a crime and was in the car with them. The so-called police told Dawood he needed to open the gate for them to search his property.

“I asked them if I could talk to the suspect, but they would not let me, so I asked if they have a warrant to search the property, and they just showed me a card. I was too afraid to go closer to have a good look,” said Mohammed.

Dawood then told his wife to call the police, as he knew that local officers always have to accompany any outside police unit. This, according to him, upset the men.

“They got angry and said there was no need to phone the police because they are the police and that they do not want to break down my gate,” he said.

His son, Aslam, said this was when his dad knew they were not official police.

“When he went into the house, the bogus police climbed into the bakkie and sped off,” he said.

Umhlali police later arrived at the property. No arrests have yet been made. Dawood added the incident left his family shaken up.

– Caxton News Service