‘Bogus cops’ nabbed in Boschkop robbery

Boschkop police in collaboration with Echo-1 Security Company arrested two men allegedly impersonating police officers on Monday.

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

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

Van Dyk said an investigation is ongoing to try and determine if they can be linked to other cases.

Etienne Schoeman, owner of Echo-1 private security company, said last week on June 19 two pedestrians reported to his patrol officers that motorists impersonating police officers had robbed them.

“The patrol officers took the victims to Bosckop police where a case was opened and investigations began.”

Schoeman said the two victims were allegedly robbed of cellphones and R2 000 in cash.

He said according to the victims, the two bogus police officers 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 added that they began with investigations to determine the car which the bogus police used to commit crimes.

Schoeman said on Monday his officers obtained information that a vehicle that matched the description of the one used by the bogus officers had been spotted in the area.

“The vehicle was on the R105 coming from the East Rand direction, then 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 said the motorists had just robbed two other victims.

“Fortunately with the help of the police, the suspects were stopped and the police brought the new victims who managed to identify the suspects.”

He said the modus operandi was to stop unsuspecting victims, introduce themselves as police investigating a robbery, produce a fake appointment card, demand cellphones and money to see if it doesn’t have blood stains and then speed off with the property.

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

He said further two counts of possession of stolen property, robbery and impersonating police officers would be added to the bogus officers’ charge sheet.

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