A total of 125 people were arrested by police during operations in the West Rand District from Friday April 1 to Sunday April 3.
According to West Rand District Police spokesperson Captain Eddie Boboko, 61 of those arrests were made during another Operation Okae Molao held in Bekkersdal and Westonaria.
Suspects were arrested for the following offences:
• Seven for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), and common assault
• One for common assault and resisting arrest
• One for robbery
• Three for malicious damage to property
• One for business burglary
• Ten for theft
• 19 for possession of drugs
• 54 for driving under the influence of alcohol
• Five for dealing in liquor without a licence
• Three of possession of stolen goods
• Five undocumented immigrants
Other suspects landed behind bars for various crimes such as intimidation, contravention of protection order, reckless driving, shop-lifting, possession of dangerous weapon, and possession of gold-bearing material,” Boboko said.
The operations focused on crime prevention to ensure safety in rural areas, roadblocks, and checking whether liquor outlets were compliant with the law, and that second-hand good dealers were not selling stolen goods.
“They were also searching for illegal goods being transported, firearms, drugs and tracing of stolen vehicles and those behind the crimes,” Boboko said.
He added that crime on the West Rand remained a concern, and members of the community were urged to take more safety precautions, especially during the upcoming Easter holidays, and make sure that their loved ones were safe at all times.
Murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking of motor vehicles and house robberies are a concern in the District; we request the community to be vigilant when driving on different routes and not pick up hitchhikers. Never stop when signalled to do so, rather stop at your nearest service station or a police station,” Boboko warned.
The acting West Rand District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Happy Xaba, welcomed the weekend’s successes and applauded members of the police and other law-enforcement agencies for helping to stabilise the crime situation on the West Rand, and making sure that communities felt safe, and those acting against the law were brought to book and face the full might of the law.
“We urge the community to continue sharing information of any suspicious activities on the Crime Stop Hotline 08600 10111 or your nearest police station,” Xaba added.
