Police officers arrest ten suspects in joint operation
In one incident, an unlicensed shotgun and a revolver with a filed-off serial number and several live rounds of ammunition were found hidden in a ceiling in Trenance Park, while boxes of liquor with fake branding were recovered in the same vicinity.
A multi-disciplinary joint operation by Verulam crime prevention officers, sector commanders, the Metro Police, and Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) resulted in arrests for various crimes such as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, stolen property, water meters, second-hand goods, illegal dealing in liquor, and drinking in public, recently.
The intensified operation was conducted in Ottawa, Riet River, Parkgate B Section, Chubby’s Garage, Trenance Park, and the Verulam CBD.
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Pleased with the overall success of the joint operation, Verulam SAPS spokesperson, Cnst Bongiwe Ngcobo, said, “The fight against crime will be ongoing to make Verulam a safer place to live in using the joint operations between several role players, which is proving fruitful every day. We urge the community to assist in this fight against crime. The Verulam Business Forum and Community In Blue are also assisting in preventing crime in the area. This joint effort will prove successful in due time as we are seeing results as a team.”
RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram echoed the sentiments of the police and is urging the public to remain vigilant as well as report any crime. He said, “A Zimbabwean, an Ethiopian and eight South Africans, were arrested in the operation that targeted various high crime areas. Together with other law enforcement and role-players, the operation took several hours with uniformed and plain-clothed officers.”
In one incident, an unlicensed shotgun and a revolver with a filed-off serial number and several live rounds of ammunition were found hidden in a ceiling in Trenance Park, while boxes of liquor with fake branding were recovered in the same vicinity.
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Cnst Ngcobo added, “A female scrap metal dealer operating from Parkgate was arrested after stolen water meters, fire hydrants, and metal pipes taken in infrastructure damage cases, were found on the property. The female informed officers that the business belonged to a foreign national that had encouraged the sale of water meters by paying drug users to steal from residential properties.”
Other suspects were charged with possession of drugs, possession of dangerous weapons, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Disruptive operations by law enforcement in recent weeks are said to have drastically decreased crime in surrounding areas.
