THE efforts of a Bluff community crime reaction group led to the arrest of two habitual criminals following a high speed chase on Wednesday, 20 April.
The Brighton Beach community crime reaction of 17 volunteers have received in-service training from Brighton Beach SAPS detective head, Lieutenant Colonel Jayson McGray, and sector commander, Warrant Officer Wikus Van Vuuren
“In light of a spike of housebreakings occurring within the Brighton Beach SAPS policing prescient, the team of community volunteers were activated, with Lt Col McGray and W/Os Van Vuuren and Theo Van Noordwyk, revisiting the crime threat pattern analysis, modes operandi of recent housebreakings and sector profiles.
A way lay operation was planned over a 48-hour period, within in various sectors of the policing prescient, as the incidents of housebreakings that had occurred were scattered,” said Brighton Beach SAPS media officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
During the early hours of 20 April the community reaction unit responded to a call for assistance from a guard in Nirvana Road, who had two men aim a gun at him.
When the unit arrived the men had fled, but the guard provided a description of them. Armed with the information the group placed themselves in strategic areas because they believed the pair would show up again.
About two hours later a red Audi A4 with two men in it was seen racing nearby. When the unit responded they were led on a high speed chase along Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales VC) but the lost track of the cat on the M4.
W/O Van Vuuren circulated the car’s description on the police radio and Montclair SAPS’ ‘Tiger’ and his team intercepted it along Wilcox Road. A gun, ammunition, laptop, three mobile devices, a tablet and other goods were found in the car.
Further investigation by W/O Marius Van Der Looy confirmed that the men, aged 23 and 32, who were cousins were habitual criminals. The 32-year-old was released on parole a year ago following a ten-year sentence for a string of Bluff housebreakings. The second man was out on bail on a murder charge and was found to be in possession of banned substances at Scottburgh SAPS.
They appeared in the Durban Regional Court on 22 April where bail was denied. They were been charged with three counts of housebreaking, pointing of a firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and possession of housebreaking implements. Additional charges are expected to be added once fingerprint and DNA results return.
Brighton Beach SAPS acting station commander and detective head, Lt Col McGray commended all involved.
“The SAPS cannot fight crime on its own. We need community involvement to support our crime fighting initiatives. Since the establishment of this group, they have contributed towards 15 arrests within the Brighton Beach SAPS policing prescient,” he said.
“As a Brighton Beach community member you can support this group. Please note that only crime alert warnings will be accepted and circulated on this group. To join the WhatsApp group, COP CRIME ALERT, text your name, address and contact number to 076-013-0249. Please ensure you read and comply with the joining terms and conditions,” said Capt Le Roux.
