‘Bogus cops’ linked to Pretoria robbery

Boschkop police and Echo-1 Security on Monday arrested two men who were allegedly impersonating police officers.

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, the suspects were found in possession of property stolen during a robbery on the R104 near Boschkop on June 19.

The police also recovered several suspected stolen cell phones and fake police appointment cards.

Van Dyk says an investigation is ongoing to try and determine if the suspects can be linked to other cases.

Etienne Schoeman, the owner of Echo-1 Security, says two pedestrians reported to his patrol officers that motorists impersonating police officers had robbed them.

“The patrol officers took the victims to Boschkop Police [Station] where a case was opened and investigations began.”

Schoeman says the victims were allegedly robbed of cell phones and R2 000 in cash.

He says according to the victims, the suspects allegedly stopped them on the side of the road and produced a fake police appointment card. They then instructed them to hand over their phones as evidence in a robbery investigation.

He says an investigation was launched to determine which car the suspects used to commit crimes.

Schoeman says on Monday, his officers obtained information that a vehicle that matched the description of the one used by the suspects was spotted in the area.

“The vehicle was on the R105 coming from the East Rand direction… We mobilised units. We spotted the vehicle travelling at high speed next to Rayton, heading back to the East Rand and we managed to stop it.”

He says the occupants of the vehicle had allegedly just robbed two other victims.

The suspects were stopped, with help from the police, and the victims identified them.

Schoeman says the vehicle was impounded and later determined to be a rental car.

A further two counts of possession of stolen property, robbery and impersonating police officers will be added to the suspects’ charge sheet, he adds.