People must not loot at crime scenes
Report looting to the police if you see anything.
The directorate for priority crime investigation in Mpumalanga urged the community to refrain from looting at crime scenes.
This comes after law enforcers saw videos posted on social media of cash-in-transit crime scenes where people can be seen looting remnants of cash left on the crime scenes.
The Hawks appealed to the community to report such incidents to Crime Stop by calling 086 001 0111 or to the nearest police station.
Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, a spokesman of the Mpumalanga Hawks, said cash-in-transit heist crime scenes can often be dangerous, particularly when explosives are used in such robberies.
“In some instances, it is possible that not all explosives were detonated at the time when the robbery was committed,” said Capt Sekgotodi.
“This, therefore, poses a risk for a detonator to explode in the presence of looters.
“Furthermore, when a robbery is committed, the area becomes a crime scene and those looting at such crime scenes, often contaminate the crime scene which will constitute a crime of theft as well as defeating the ends of justice.”
She requested the community to refrain from entering crime scenes and rather support the work of the police by helping the police when a crime is committed as opposed to being part of the crime.
“The police cannot be able to fight these crimes alone, we, therefore, call upon everyone in the community to join hands in fighting crime.
“Together we can do more.”
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