Policing increase to counter mall heists
Visible policing expected following daring robberies
DEPUTY minister of police, Bongani Mkhongi is set to intensify police visibility in all critical areas such as malls, shopping complexes and ATMs in order to minimise robberies and heists.
He made the statement on Sunday after another daring heist in Delft, where suspects shot and killed a security officer during a cash-in-transit robbery. Another security guard sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and the suspects left with an undisclosed amount of money.
“Working with greater vigour and determination police have already found the getaway car, a Fiat, not far away from Delft. The Ministry of Police would like to reassure the community of Delft that as the police we are searching every nook and cranny of this metro and province looking for these criminals and we will find them.”
Mkhongi said Delft is not going to hold the highest rung of the criminal ladder in the country and be a haven for criminals. He said they are urging all community members to work with the police and provide every bit of information that may be useful in apprehending criminals.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said they hope that an abandoned car will shed more light on the whereabouts of suspects who shot and killed a security officer during the cash-in-transit robbery in Delft on Sunday. No arrests have been made.
Members attached to the Blue Downs Cluster Crime Prevention unit responded to the sound of gunshots in the area of Diepwater Street, Westbank during the early hours of Sunday morning. Upon their arrival, a suspect was spotted fleeing the area and following a brief pursuit he was apprehended in possession of an illegal firearm. Traut said further investigation discovered that a 19-year-old male was shot and killed minutes earlier, possibly by the arrested suspect. However his involvement in the incident is still under investigation.
“The 25-year-old man was detained for the illegal possession of a firearm and he is due to make a court appearance in Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court today.
In another incident on Saturday members of the Maitland K9 unit patrolled the streets of Nyanga and their attention was drawn to a suspicious vehicle with two male occupants in Muller Street. Traut said the members’ instincts immediately prompted their pursuit of the said vehicle which ended badly for the suspects when they lost control of the green Mazda Etude in their attempt to evade thelaw.
“While one of the suspects managed to escape on foot, one male in his twenties was arrested in possession of a 5.56mm assault rifle and 14 rounds of ammunition.”
The suspect is expected to make a court appearance today and a probe established that the vehicle was hijacked from the complainant minutes before in Borcherds Quarry Road.
Meanwhile residents in Hanover Park held a memorial and vigil in Lansport Road on Friday night for those who lost loved ones due to gang violence.