An alert security officer’s determination not to allow crime to be committed on his watch, led to an interesting discovery this past Saturday.
Piet Ungerer of WF Security was patrolling on Goldman Street when a police van caught his attention. He could not quite put his finger on what was bothering him, then he noticed it had GP registration plates, as opposed to the usual B plates. He called in the registration number and found it belonged to a rental company. It did not make sense.
He also noticed the signage on the vehicle was coming off in places and covered up with paper.
Ungerer contacted Florida Police while he followed the police van. When it stopped at the Spar where the occupants wanted to draw money from the ATM, he confronted them. The man and woman explained the fake police van was a prop used in a movie. Police arrived but was not happy with their explanation and took the vehicle to Florida Police Station so their story could be verified.
Although the man and woman were let off the hook, police explained to them that there were regulations for the use of a fake police vehicle. When on the road they had to be escorted by a real police vehicle and the vehicle has to be covered when stored.
Ungerer, who at first suspected the vehicle might belong to a blue light gang, said he was concerned that the fake police van could have been stolen and used to commit a crime.
The Record is awaiting comment from Florida Police spokesperson Captain Lydia Dikolomelo.
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