Lyttelton police use high-tech drone to fight crime
“We will not allow criminals to freely come into our area and do as they please.”
Lyttelton police used a high-tech drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera in its most recent sweep of crime hotspots in the area.
The drone, fitted with a so-called FLIR camera, has thermal imaging, night vision and infrared. It was supplied by Bull security.
It was used to round up possible suspects during a joint operation by police, the local CPF and various security companies last week.
The sweep focused on empty fields, which have been identified as potential areas used as staging areas by criminals, according to police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller.
The first hotspot to be targeted was the dumping site in Delmas Road.
Here the drone was effectively used to spot and round up illegal dwellers.
“It was discovered that there were only a handful of people still staying in the area,” Miller told Rekord.
“They were warned that it was not only dangerous, but that they were trespassing on municipal property.”
Next up was Theron Street.
“The teams cordoned off the area and all of the occupants’ dwellings and persons were searched for any illegal substances or properties.”
Miller said people living here earn an income from recycling.
“There were a lot of old recycled goods lying around, several dangerous weapons were confiscated that were found abandoned in the area.”
About 14 small dagga plants were also found to be growing in the area.
The joint operation also targeted West Avenue along the Hennops River.
Here a small clandestine community have taken up residence in the bushes, said Miller.
“It is understood that the owner of the property is out of the country and cannot be contacted.”
He said several dangerous weapons were confiscated and a few old broken cellphones were discovered abandoned in the bushes.
“It was not possible to establish whether these were stolen, or may just have been simply discarded.”
Miller said all of the people searched and questioned during the operation had their documents checked and verified.
Miller said Lyttelton station commander Brigadier Themba Maduna’s aim is to continue with operations such as this one as they are part of their crime prevention strategy.
“We will not allow criminals to freely come into our area and do as they please.”
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https://rekordcenturion.co.za/143479/lyttelton-police-takes-war-on-crime-to-criminals/
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