Police operations pounce on gangs of serious and violent criminals
Highway Patrol Unit officers acted on crime intelligence information and stopped a car with three occupants suspected to be responsible for serious and violent crimes.
More than 1 970 suspects were arrested for various crimes across Pretoria and the rest of the province during Operation O Kae Molao over the weekend.
According to Sinoville police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, operation O Kae Molao pounced on gangs suspected to be responsible for serious and violent crimes in the province.
“Twenty-five of these suspects were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol in Hillbrow and another 28 were arrested in other districts within the province.”
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He said more than 200 suspects were arrested by detectives when tracing people that have been on the run after committing a crime.
“Integrated forces of Operation O Kae Molao led by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela intercepted and pounced on armed suspects who were allegedly en route to commit a business robbery at one of the chain stores in Johannesburg,” Van Dyk said.
“The four suspects, aged between 31 and 44, were arrested in Hillbrow on Saturday evening. Three unlicensed firearms, ammunition and suspected stolen vehicles were found in their possession.
“Crime intelligence received information about a gang that was about to commit a business robbery at one of the chain stores in Johannesburg.
“Officers from different units of police and other law enforcement agencies kept close observation until they spotted two cars that matched the description given.”
Van Dyk said upon searching the occupants of both vehicles, it was discovered they were armed with different kinds of pistols and live rounds of ammunition.
“All suspects were arrested for conspiracy to commit business robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“In a separate incident on Saturday, police arrested three suspects in Soweto after they were found with an AK-47 rifle with 16 rounds of ammunition and an Audi that was hijacked in Ekurhuleni,” he said.
“The suspects, who were reported to be undocumented foreign nationals, are suspected to be behind cross pavement robberies in Gauteng and neighbouring provinces.”
Van Dyk said Highway Patrol Unit officers acted on crime intelligence information and stopped a car with three occupants suspected to be responsible for serious and violent crimes.
“The suspects ignored the police and a high-speed chase ensued until the suspects were cornered at Chris Hani Road in Diepkloof.
“Upon searching the suspects and the vehicle, police found an AK-47 rifle loaded with ammunition. Preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle driven by the suspects was hijacked in Primrose, Ekurhuleni,” he said.
Some of the suspects already paid admissions of guilt and were released, while others were expected to appear at different magistrate courts from Monday.
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