Dozens fall foul of massive police sweep

Dozens of people were arrested in the past week, in police operations in the Moot.

At the weekend alone, 58 people were arrested in the Tshwane Central policing district of Pretoria Moot, Silverton, Villieria, Garsfontein, Lyttelton, Sunnyside and Brooklyn police stations.

Police spokesperson Captain Anton Breedt said the operations focused on violence against women and children, property and drug-related crimes, offences under the road traffic act such as driving under the influence of liquor or drugs and other lesser crimes.

The suspects were arrested for the following crimes:

– 15 for driving under the influence
– 14 for drug-related crimes
– Three for common assault, including those with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm
– One for rape
– Four for common theft and seven for shoplifting
– Two for fraud
– One for being in the possession of equipment used for car break-ins and another for being in the possession of a dangerous weapon
– Two for threatening someone with a firearm
– One for reckless and negligent driving, one for business robbery and another for common robbery
– One for being in the possession of stolen property and another for counterfeit goods.

Breedt said the rest were arrested for “lesser serious crimes”.

READ MORE: Moot neighbourhood watch tackles public drinking

“The Tshwane Central cluster with other law enforcement agencies were committed to combating crime and securing a safe environment for all the residents and will continue with operations to ensure that there will be heightened police visibility in problematic areas,” he said.

While some people were arrested for driving under the influence, Breedt said there were safer ways to get home safely. 

“Should you be drinking, make use of the various public transport services available,” he said.

“You can even ask one of your CPF patrollers to take you home before you are completely under the influence and you do not know where or who you are.”

Pretoria Moot CPF chairperson Elsabe Van Staden provided some safety tips for a safer night out: 

– Make sure you go out in groups and appoints a designated driver for the evening
– Never accept a ride from a stranger
– Make sure that you have airtime on your phone and that your mobile phone is charged
– Never accept drinks from a stranger
– Never leave your drink unattended
– Do not allow anyone to open a drink for you, it is so easy to switch glasses or even cans
– Make sure you never go to the bathroom on your own, take a responsible friend with
– Do not accept any substances from anyone and don’t allow anyone to force you to do anything you are not comfortable with
– Save reliable and responsible peoples’ telephone numbers under “Emergency Numbers”
– Never drive under the influence
– Take care of your valuables and always make sure that friends or family know where you are

“You don’t have to be under the influence to have a good time – always drink responsibly and know your limits,” she said.

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