Community members assist police in apprehending criminals
Two firearms, packets of cigarettes, cash amount of money, milk tins and eight cell phones and a Polo car have been recovered by police recently.
This comes after Tzaneen police and Tzaneen Cluster Crime Intelligence received a tip-off from community members about the whereabouts of a five-member crime syndicate.
According to police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe the members of the syndicate have been terrorizing Maake, Ritavi,Tzaneen and Bolobedu policing areas. The five suspects are said to be aged between 21 and 32. Community members spotted a Polo car without the registration numbers at the back travelling from Lephepane to Tzaneen and immediately alerted the police about the suspicious car. The police responded without delay and the suspects were arrested. Ngoepe said the car which the suspects were using, is still being circulated.
Meanwhile in Bolobedu, a 65 year-old man was arrested at Mamphakhati village for plantation of dagga estimated to be worth R25 000. 00. Ngoepe said the arrest was made through a tip-off from members of the community. “The trees of dagga were uncovered in a field of mealies belonging to the suspect,” said Ngoepe.
In another incident, a 14 year-old girl was arrested for possession of dagga at her parental home at Relela in Bolobedu. Ngoepe said this was also on a tip-off from members of the community. “All the arrested suspects appeared before Bolobedu and Tzaneen Magistrate Courts from Tuesday on various charges ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of dagga, planting of dagga and possession of suspected stolen properties. Police investigations are still continuing,” concluded Ngoepe.
