The Mitchell’s Plain SAPS Cluster, which includes Mitchell’s Plain, Lentegeur and Strandfontein police stations as well as the Athlone, Grassy Park, Lansdowne, Philippi and Steenberg policing precincts, arrested 618 people from Friday July 15 to Thursday July 21.
These included 242 suspects arrested for being in possession of drugs during stop-and-search operations.
During the operation 87 houses were searched for drugs and 1071.06g of dagga, 306 mandrax tablets, 430g of tik and 127g of heroin were confiscated.
A total of 18 suspects in domestic violence-related cases were also arrested, 33 motorists were issued fines for traffic violations totalling R25 500 and 21 premises were also searched to prevent the illegal sale of liquor.
Tracing operations resulted in 47 arrests of wanted persons during 31 operations conducted. Police officers visited 1 002 spaza shops, mostly owned by foreign nationals, resulting in two firearms being confiscated and three people arrested for possession of illegal firearms.
* Two men, aged 25 and 27 ,were arrested for cable theft in Spine Road, next to the railway bridge, on Friday July 22 at 9.30am.
According to police they allegedly stole copper wire and damaged a light pole.
The two dug a trench to remove the cable wires. They were arrested near the scene by police who responded timeously.
The suspects will appear in court soon, on charges relating to possession of stolen property and malicious damage to property.
Major-General Gregory Goss, Mitchell’s Plain Cluster station commander, applauded the good work of all members who participated in these operations in conjunction with other security forces, adding that police will maintain a zero tolerance approach in the prevention and investigation of crime.
* A man, 44, was arrested for being in possession of a 303 hunting rifle in Lebombo Street, Tafelsig, on Friday July 22.
The police found the rifle hidden under a mattress wrapped in sticky tape.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
Mitchell’s Plain station commander Brigadier Cass Goolam thanked the community for their assistance in this matter.
“Many innocent persons are killed every year in gun-related incidents.
“We want to urge people to report illegal firearms and we want to encourage firearm owners to practise responsible firearm ownership.
“Firearms must be stored in a safe. Ensure that you know where the key is. Keep the PIN code of the safe confidential,” he said.
* Three men, aged between 40 and 48, were arrested for kidnapping and assault in Pruim Close in Westridge on Sunday July 17, at 1.27pm.
The complainant received a call from his girlfriend informing him that people were looking for him. When he arrived at the address in Pruim Close he saw two men.
One had a Coke bottle in his hand and started assaulting the complainant with it by hitting him over the head.
They then told him that they were going to take him over to a gang so that they could kill him. The complainant was forced inside a vehicle where he was further assaulted.
He was taken to a house in Rocklands and again assaulted but later managed to escape.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Monolitho Haywood, of Mitchell’s Plain Crime Investigative Department at 021 3701782 or 082 777 8076.
