According to Brig Johan Jacobs, Benoni Police Station commander, this form of crime has experienced a recent rise in Benoni and is a problem for police.
In the latest incident, three men were arrested after colliding with a police vehicle in Northmead, on Thursday (February 9).
The arrests took place in Lelie Street at around noon.
According to Jacobs, a community member in Rynfield informed police of a suspicious-looking vehicle outside their house.
“The vehicle, a blue Golf Seven, was chased away and was spotted by another community member, driving towards Great North Road,” Jacobs said.
“On the corner of Stokroos and Angelier streets, the car collided with one of our patrol vehicles, and three of the suspect vehicle’s tyres burst.
“We continued the chase when they got out of the car and ran away in Lelie Street.”
Jacobs said two of the suspects were caught soon thereafter, while the third climbed onto the roof of a house, but was also arrested eventually.
Police recovered jewellery, TVs and suspected housebreaking implements, among other items.
“This success emphasises the importance of interaction and co-operation between the police and the community,” Jacobs added.
“These arrests were made because of the community being alert and the co-operation between SAPS, EMPD and local security services.
“Housebreaking and hijackings are a massive problem in Benoni.”
The men will be charged with possession of a hijacked vehicle, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of suspected housebreaking implements.
The incident followed the arrest of two robbery suspects on February 6.
The two men were taken into custody by the crime prevention unit in Northmead, at around 3pm.
“The suspects were on foot and as the officers approached them, they tried to move away but didn’t run,” said Const Zunickha Essakjee, Benoni SAPS spokesperson.
“The officers stopped them and arrested them for being connected to a robbery, which took place in Northmead last year.”
Essakjee couldn’t reveal what the link was between the suspects and the robbery, as the matter is still under investigation.
Reza Patel, executive chairperson of the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster Community Policing Forum (CPF), was asked about the rise in house and business robberies.
“Robberies are always a big problem and community members must become more vigilant; many are currently too lax,” he said.
“There is a big socio-economic problem with unemployment at the moment, where many are looking for opportunities to survive.
“Community members must report crime to the police, not stay quiet about suspicious vehicles or people and keep valuables out of sight.”
