Crime strategy yields results

Continuous, established crimefighting strategies are yielding positive results in the battle to eradicate crime hotspots in Limpopo, particularly crime affecting the business community and the mushrooming problem of illegal firearms in most policing clusters in the province, Limpopo police said yesterday.

In Lephalale, a recent sting joint operation by various police units was conducted in Marapong and Onverwact following the theft of R800000 at a shop in the Lephalale CBD, Lt-Col Moatshe Ngoepe said.

During this operation, three suspects aged between 26 and 41 – all employees of the shop concerned – were arrested. During the arrests, R250000 of the stolen money and 11 cellphones were recovered. The suspects would appear in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court today on charges of theft, Ngoepe said.

In Tubatse near Burgersfort, two suspects aged 26 and 35 were arrested for possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition.

Various firearms were recovered, including a rifle, a shotgun, a pistol and one magazine with ammunition, and Winchester rifle and shotgun ammunition inside the car they were driving. A total of R3 200 in counterfeit R100 notes and R4 800 in counterfeit R200 notes, as well as three cellphones were also recovered.

Suspected stolen property recovered included a passport, a wallet, a bunch of keys, a knife, a key holder, an identity document, a medal, a bracelet, R30 in cash, five “stones of gold”, and a Nissan Sentra, Ngoepe said.

In the Marble Hall, Lebowakgomo, and Maake policing areas, three suspects aged between 24 and 32, were arrested and four firearms, including two hunting rifles, were recovered.

The arrested suspects would appear in the Tubatse, Lebowakgomo, and Lenyenye magistrates’ courts today.

Two hunting rifles were found on a farm outside Marble Hall near Groblesdal by security officers on routine patrol, who subsequently called police. No arrest had yet been made in this case.

The origin of the rifles is unknown, but the possibility of them belonging to rhino poachers could not be ruled out. Police investigations were continuing, Ngoepe said. – ANA