GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Concerted efforts by police in the Eden Cluster saw 362 suspects arrested from Friday 3 September to Sunday morning 5 September at 06:00.
Of these, 268 were arrested for reported crime committed during this period, ranging from petty theft to contravention of the Disaster Management Act's (DMA) Covid-19 regulations and other serious crimes.
The operations included high visibility patrols in crime-stricken areas, roadblocks, stop and search operations focusing on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, tracing wanted suspects and confiscating dangerous weapons. Most of the arrested suspects were to appear in the local magistrate's court this week once charged while others were released on a warning to appear in court later or pay an admission of guilt fine for DMA transgressions.
Stolen bakkie
On Saturday 4 September, members of the George Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) received information that a Toyota bakkie stolen in Ladismith earlier the day, might be en route to George.
They operationalised the information and while patrolling in Knysna Road, George, saw a suspicious man, hiking towards Knysna. They stopped and interrogated the suspect who fitted the description of the one who allegedly stole the bakkie. Upon further investigation the suspect took the members to the George CBD where he pointed out the location of the parked bakkie.
He was arrested and the bakkie was handed in as evidence. The 39-year-old suspect from Hoekwil near George will be transferred to Ladismith police holding cells to appear in the Ladismith Magistrate's Court on a charge of theft of a motor vehicle later this week.
Western Cape management commended the members for their vigilance in bringing these perpetrators to book. Combined efforts with the taffic departments contributed to a safer weekend in the policing precincts in the Garden Route.
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