Provincial police mount roadblock in Midrand to combat common crimes
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni says the help of crime intelligence services will come in handy to crack organised crimes in Midrand.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni and Midrand authorities nabbed 102 undocumented foreigners during Operation Shanela recently.
One suspect was arrested after the motorbike he was driving was found to have a stolen engine. A taxi operator was also taken in for questioning after it was found that the engine was tampered with.
Read more: VOX POP: Residents express their distrust in the police
Mthombeni was joined by Midrand Police’s station commander Brigadier David Molefi Tsotsotso. The operation aimed to assist local police stations with crime reduction activities.
This happened on May 23, in Blue Hills where Mthombeni also said authorities had clamped down on car hijacking. “Issues of hijacking have seen a substantial decrease during these instalments. We started yesterday [May 22] with the suspects’ raid, where 977 were arrested of which 216 for gender-based violence.”
Also read: Midrand Police acknowledge Ria Sebetsas support for crime prevention and investigating endeavours
He said three bogus cops were also arrested during the raid and they confiscated Ekurhukleni Metro Police Department uniform, Gauteng Traffic Police and unlicensed firearms. Two illegal shebeens were also closed down in Glen Austin.
Mthombeni said bogus cops were a big concern to the authorities and that authorities would leave no stone unturned to get rid of them.
“We are systematically moving forward in terms of cracking down on any criminal activities with the help of our crime intelligence. Any crime that occurs that affects the safety of the community, is a concern. Whether bogus cops, car hijacking, CIT heists, house robberies or any crime, it is a concern for law enforcement agencies,” said Mthobeni.
Mthombeni thanked local security companies who are working closely with the police to combat crime.
He said the police were prioritising issues of GBV to ensure that they fight the scourge by ensuring victim-friendly facilities.
Related articles: Operation Shanela in full effect along the R562
