The Gauteng police led by provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela arrested 650 suspects during operation O Kae Molao in Ivory Park on 7 January.
The Gauteng police were joined by the police vehicle crime investigation unit, Data Dot and Tracker Connect who recovered a number of stolen vehicles and car parts from a chop shop operating in the area.
Provincial spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said, “The recovered parts include Nissan NP200 brake boosters and petrol tanks of cars stolen in Kempton Park, Alexandra, Lyttleton, Putfontein and Bethany in North West province. The team also impounded four vehicles whose engines were tampered with. The manager at the chop shop was arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen cars and goods.”
Lieutenant General Mawela said, “This is a major breakthrough for us. The recovery of these vehicle parts will help us crack a lot of stolen and hijacked vehicle cases in the province.”
Five foreign national were arrested on the premises.
Captain Masondo added, “Furthermore, police arrested more than 650 suspects, of which 110 were arrested for gender-based violence which remains on top of Provincial Commissioner’s list of priorities, during O Kae Molao operations that were conducted throughout the province.
“The integrated operations that started on Wednesday night focused mainly on tracing of suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes and gender-based violence, roadblocks, contact crimes, illegal mining and enforcing Level 3 lockdown regulations.”
The suspects were also arrested for cases included murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, rape, common robbery, housebreaking and theft, business robbery, driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of drugs, possession of gold-bearing material, possession of suspected stolen property, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, theft and contravention of the National Disaster Management Act.
Captain Masondo concluded, “All arrested suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrate Courts in the province in due course.”
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/278599/man-arrested-for-malicious-damage-to-property/
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/279804/midrand-police-recover-vehicle-stolen-in-brakpan/
