POLICE TASK TEAM MEETS WITH GREAT SUCCESS
Komani police station property task team members Tando Mayeka, Zamile Nqayi, Siphelo Tokwe, Mtutuzeli Solontsi, Pumeza Penxa and Sivuyile Tose have been honoured by the SAPS after putting a number of criminals behind bars.
Acting station commander Colonel Loyiso Ngalo said the task team’s successes included the arrests of security guards working at the Boxer Shopping Complex following a burglary at one of the stores where a large sum of money was taken.
“Three people were also arrested after a burglary took place on a local farm.
“The crime was believed to have been committed by a group of men who were targeting farms. The furniture which was recovered by the task team was collected at the police station last week.”
Another success included several arrests following a housebreaking in Calderwood Street recently.
“All the successes happened because the community, which trusted the task team, was willing to give information which led to the arrests of the suspects.”
Ngalo said the task team was formed after indications of an increase in property crimes in Komani during the period from April to June in 2018.
This, he said, posed a challenge to investment.
“I met with the management to form a team set to focus on priority crimes.
“The task team was then appointed to step up to the task of reducing the rise of priority crimes which were affecting the station, including residential house breakings, business burglaries and theft from motor vehicles. We met to explore different sets of avenues to address the issues and we came to the understanding that if we all joined hands we would have a broader input on how we would combat crime.
“The task team is composed of detectives and visible policing members.”
He said the task team members were assessed every month.
“When we look at the volume of work that was covered in the second quarter, it is evident that the team is working.”
He said related crime levels had dropped since May. “In July, August and September they did an excellent job. The team was available 24 hours a day.
“I want a new vehicle for them because I want to be able to send them to Cacadu.”
Property task team head Sergeant Thando Mayeki said, “This makes me happy because it shows that our management team recognises our hard work and the difference we have made.
“Our challenges were that some of the cases were opened late – some after three months – and we could not find the fingerprints. This affected our investigation because we were unable to find links to lead us to the perpetrators.”