The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum shared a post on their social media platforms to alert the public of four men dressed in allegedly fake police uniforms driving a black Audi. The vehicle apparently has fake police markings and the occupants have tried to pull over motorists in Paulshof, Fourways and Bryanston. The vehicle is reported to have the licence plate number JNC721GP and call sign RR1743.
However, Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for the Douglasdale police said he could only confirm one reported case of police impersonation in the Douglasdale policing precinct.
According to Muthan, a woman was recently stopped at the corner of Montecasino Boulevard and William Nicol Drive while driving at night, by individuals posing as police. The suspects allegedly were in a fake police vehicle and were wearing fake police uniforms. The suspects informed the woman that they had to do a routine vehicle search, so she alighted from her vehicle while one of the officers conducted the search. Only later, once the woman arrived at her home, did she realise that R2 000 cash had been removed from her vehicle, and surmised that it had been removed during the search.
On reporting the incident to the Douglasdale police, it was discovered that the suspects had been impersonating police.
Muthan urged residents to be observant and always take down registration details of police vehicles if stopped at roadblocks.
He said should a motorist feel unsafe or be suspicious of foul play, they should rather drive to the nearest police station or well-lit public place that is covered by CCTV cameras such as a petrol station, and allow the search to happen there.
Muthan added that motorists should always ask a police officer for identification if it wasn’t produced upfront.
“A police officer must produce his appointment certificate when approaching a member of the public, this will have his or her photo, name and identification number on it,” he said.
If anyone sees or suspects that police officers are fake, residents should call the Douglasdale police operations room on 011 699 1333 with the location and description for a fast response.
Have you ever had an incident involving fake police? Share your experiences with Fourways Review in the comments below.
