Police make 159 long weekend arrests: 28 just for drunken driving

Police across the district recently continued their weekly efforts to make the West Rand a safer place by conducting operations that included suspect tracing and roadblocks.

Also read: West Rand Police intensify crime prevention in the district: 114 arrested

During the long weekend period of Friday, April 28 to Monday, May 1 many people either spent time travelling with family or decided to stay at home. However, a total of 159 people who decided to take part in criminal activities spent their time behind bars during this period.

Also read: Tenant held at gunpoint during Helikon Park armed robbery

Those arrested committed the following crimes:
• Murder (three)
• Attempted murder (two)
• Car hijacking and attempted murder (one)
• Rape (three)
• Hijacking (one)
• Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (12)
• Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm under domestic violence (two)
• Common assault (four)
• Common assault under domestic violence (seven)
• Assaulting a police official (two)
• Theft (10)
• Fraud (one)
• Housebreaking and theft (six)
• Drunken driving (28)
• Reckless and negligence driving as well as drunken driving
• Possession of an unlicensed firearm (five)
• Possession of a dangerous weapon (one)
• Possession of suspected stolen property (eight)
• Possession of drugs (one)
• Possession of dagga (four)
• Possession of gold-bearing material (seven)
• Pointing of a firearm (one)
• Malicious damage to property (seven)
• Malicious damage to property and domestic violence (two)
• Possession of a stolen motor vehicle (one)
• Tampering with essential infrastructure (one)
• Defeating the ends of justice (two)
• Contravening a protection order (four)
• Illegal mining (one)
• Dealing in drugs (one)
• Dealing in liquor without a license (two)
• Dealing in dagga (one)

A total of 20 illegal immigrants were also arrested while shoplifting and intimidation were also policed.

All suspects arrested are expected to appear in their respective Magistrate’s Court around the District.

West Rand District police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana was satisfied with the successes and encouraged the community to contact the police should they ever witness a crime taking place in their respective community.

Community members can anonymously report criminal activities on a crime stop number 080010111 or use the MYSAPS app that can be downloaded from smartphones.