Operation Vhuthu Hawe foils robbers in CBD

The Pretoria central SAPS conducted a number of multidisciplinary operations over the weekend under Operation Vhuthu Hawe resulting in numerous arrests.

The main objective of the operation was to monitor crime hotspots in the Pretoria central area and reduce the police’s response time to incoming calls.

The operation managed to remove unlicensed firearms from the streets and stop two armed robberies in progress.

The suspect arrested in Bosman on the corner of Paul Kruger and Scheiding streets in the early hours of October 14 with the unregistered firearm is believed to be a 37-year-old man. The man also had seven rounds of illegal ammunition in the magazine of the weapon.

The crime prevention team was doing the rounds in the area when it spotted the suspicious man carrying a black plastic bag. He was stopped and searched and the police found the weapon in the bag. When he could not provide the valid documentation to prove that he was the legal owner of the firearm, he was swiftly taken into custody.

Corporate communication officer Constable Thabang Nkhumise confirmed that Pretoria central SAPS foiled two separate robbery attempts this weekend as well.

“We can confirm that two toy guns were recovered in different incidents of attempted robbery, the first incident occurred when two male suspects aged 30 attempted to rob an unsuspecting motorist in the early hours of Saturday, October 15. Due to high visibility by the police, an immediate arrest was made as they managed to catch the suspects in the act,” said Nkumise.

The second incident took place on the corner of Lillian Ngoyi and Struben streets where an unsuspecting victim was approached by two males, aged 29 and 36. The men pulled a weapon on the victim demanding his belongings.

Fortunately for the victim, a police van was patrolling the area at the time of the attempted mugging. The quick-thinking victim was able to run to the van for assistance.

The robbers attempted to flee but were quickly caught and arrested. Upon searching the suspects, police recovered the toy gun along with other materials which led them to believe that the suspects have been regularly robbing people in the area.

Other offences that led to arrests this weekend included common assault under the domestic violence act, shoplifting, drug possession, undocumented immigrants and impersonating a police officer.

Nkhumise urged the public to be aware of criminals masked as police officers who then demand bribes from their victims, and to report them should they have an encounter with one.

“We urge the community to be vigilant at all times and be aware of their surroundings. They must also take note of the people who claim to be cops and would demand cash. Should they encounter such they must immediately report them to the police,” concluded Nkumise.

All suspects are due to appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s court in due course.

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