Hawks warn communities about crime scene contaminations
Communities are asked to refrain from entering crime scenes and instead help the police by assisting members when a crime is committed rather than being a part of the crime itself.
MPUMALANGA – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga warned the general public about some videos that have been shared on social media platforms, showing community members contaminating crime scenes and looting the remnants of cash left at these scenes.
The Hawks appealed to the communities to refrain from such criminality.
When a crime is committed, it is the community’s duty to notify the police of the situation by immediately dialing the Crime Stop line on 0860 10111 or by going to the closest police station.
Crime scenes associated with cash-in-transit heists can frequently be extremely hazardous, especially when explosives are employed.
It is likely that not all explosives were detonated at the time the robbery was performed, in some circumstances. As a result, there is a chance that the detonator will go off in the presence of looters, which could result in fatalities.
Furthermore, when a robbery occurs, the area becomes a crime scene, and those looting at such crime scenes frequently contaminate the crime scene, constituting a theft crime as well as defeating the ends of justice.
Communities are asked to refrain from entering crime scenes and instead help the police by assisting members when a crime is committed rather than being a part of the crime itself.
“Because the police cannot fight crime alone, we urge all members of the public to join forces,” Captain Dineo Sekgotodi of the Hawks said.
