Police arrest three phony fire extinguisher inspectors
Police also seized several fire extinguishers worth up to R50 000.
In a joint operation, three suspects were recently arrested in Sunnyside for fraud and possession of stolen goods after police intercepted their fire extinguisher inspection scheme.
The stakeholders involved were Sunnyside SAPS, SAPS Rapid Rail Police Unit (RRPU), Gauteng Traffic Wardens STT (NC), Tshenolo P.I, Old East Community Forum, and private security companies.
In a social media post from the provincial Department of Community Safety, the suspects arrived at a job only to find an actual inspection team attending to said call.
“The suspects were exposed when a legitimate fire extinguisher company arrived to exchange extinguishers, only to find another group already on-site, falsely claiming to have the same contract. Upon investigation, the second company was found to be operating without a contract, resulting in officers having to intervene,” the post read.
The information about the suspect’s scheme was relayed to police via tip-off.
Upon further investigation, one of the suspects confessed to storing additional stolen goods at his residence.
Officers proceeded to his house, where they recovered more fire extinguishers worth R50 000.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirmed that the suspects have since appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court and that the matter is ongoing.
“The three suspects were arrested but the docket was not placed on the roll as one of the suspects is alleged to be the owner/supplier of the fire extinguishers in this matter. Everything placed in the docket was taken back to court for the decision,” Van Dyk said.
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