Bedfordview resident, Ms Veronica Breedt, has raised her concerns after witnessing a robbery by two police officers at 9am on December 9, at the corner of Smith and Sovereign streets in Bedfordview.
“My daughter and I were witness to a robbery on the corner of Smith and Sovereign streets in the area. Two police men in a white Golf stopped a Chinese man in his vehicle, while he was waiting at an intersection.
“The officers demanded that the man get out of his vehicle and proceed to searching the vehicle. The officers then ran back to their car, made a quick, illegal U-turn in the middle of the road, almost causing an accident with an innocent driver and then sped away,” said Ms Breedt.
“The victim sat on the side of the road, totally bewildered and not knowing what to do. I went and asked him what had happened, as I suspected something was wrong. He then informed me that R5 000 had been stolen from his vehicle,” said Ms Breedt.
“The officers were in uniform and their vehicle was clearly marked. It raises questions and concerns about the corruption within the people we trust with law enforcement,” said Ms Breedt.
The Bedfordview SAPS communications officer, Sergeant Mduduzi Nhlabathi, said a case was not opened regarding the alleged theft.
He did say, however, that the SAPS will look into the incident.
In October, the SAPS noted with concern the increase in the number of robberies reportedly committed by people wearing police uniforms, or using vehicles fitted with blue lights. The SAPS revealed that this trend has resurfaced within the Gauteng Province over the past couple of months.
Lieutenant General Makgale said, “In some instances, business people travelling with cash are being robbed while on their way to or from the bank. In other instances, people are being followed and then robbed while travelling to their respective destinations.”
“The majority of these incidents happen at night in poorly lit areas. Members of the public who find themselves stopped by a private vehicle fitted with blue lights, or if they are suspicious about a marked police vehicle, are advised to slow down, continue driving to a public area or to the nearest police station,” Lt Gen Makgale said.
