Metro police capture impostors
In the suspects’ vehicle, cell phones, laptops and fraudulent police ID cards were found.
Tshwane metro police (TMPD) have caught up to their impersonators who had robbed an unsuspecting motorist in Brooklyn, east of Pretoria this week.
Spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the impostors were arrested after motorists complained that two people were impersonating officers in the Brooklyn and Sunnyside area.
“The suspects would stop people, search them then rob them of their belongings.
While on patrol in Brooklyn on December 13, officers were approached by a person who told them that two people who presented themselves as police had just robbed him.”
Mahamba said the complainant said the duo was driving a white Toyota Etios.
He said police proceeded to look out for the vehicle and located it in Sunnyside.
“They tried to stop it but it sped away.
A pursuit ensued and continued until the suspect vehicle crashed into another vehicle and the duo was apprehended.”
Metro police recover stolen goods
He said police found cell phones, laptops and fraudulent police ID cards in the Etios.
“The two were arrested for common robbery and possession of stolen property.
The Etios licence disc did not correspond to the number plate and it was later discovered it belonged to a person in Johannesburg.”
Mahamba said the Etios had also been used in the commission of other crimes.
Recently, motorists were warned to watch out for criminals in full Tshwane metro police uniforms driving a vehicle with blue lights targeting motorists on the highway.
The TMPD said it was aware the criminals had robbed truckers.
In October, metro police divulged they were also hunting impersonators who reportedly robbed two men on the N4-R80 Soshanguve off-ramp.
Mahamba said the department believed this unit was bogus, adding that an investigation would be initiated into the matter.
Mahamba said the TMPD became suspicious a fake unit was operating in the area when reports surfaced that its officers hijacked trucks on the N4 highway.
He said the fake law enforcers reportedly drove a kombi marked as a TMPD vehicle.
“It is alleged that on October 9, two men in TMPD uniform and marked vehicle with blue lights and siren highjacked a truck on the N4-R80 Soshanguve off-ramp.”
Mahamba said the men instructed the truck driver to pull over.
“When the complainant stopped, the men instructed him to get out of the truck so they could show him the faulty brake light.
“The suspects pointed a firearm at the driver and forced out. One got into the truck and drove while another drove off in the Kombi leaving the truck driver on the side of the road unharmed.”
Mahamba said a TMPD investigation uncovered that those men could not have been TMPD officers.
Public warned to be on the lookout
He warned the public to be extra vigilant even when stopped by police officers.
“If there is any suspicion, ask the officers to produce their appointment certificates.”
This is not the first report of fake metro police roaming Tshwane.
Motorists are encouraged to report these crimes to their nearest police station or the TMPD on 012 358 7095/7096.
All information received will be treated with confidentiality.
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