City tech helps close the net on murder suspects
23 December 2024
The duo was cornered at Racecourse and Chukker Road on Sunday, 22 December – just over an hour after a fatal shooting incident in Lavender Hill.
Enforcement services were alerted to the fatal shooting incident on St. Christopher Road in Lavender Hill, courtesy of a ShotSpotter alert at 08:53 on Sunday, 22 December 2024.
A 15-year-old on a bicycle had been shot by a suspect who then fled in a white bakkie.
Metro Police officers searched the area, and also reviewed CCTV footage to help identify the vehicle and track the suspects’ whereabouts.
Just over an hour after the shooting, at approximately 10:00, officers spotted the bakkie turning onto Racecourse Road in Lansdowne from the M5.
Two suspects, aged 25 and 26 were arrested at the corner of Chukker and Racecourse Roads.
‘The arrests came about due to good collaboration between agencies, but also drawing on the technology available to us. The gunshot detection alert allowed for a pinpoint response, which meant intelligence was gathered quickly and disseminated, and the officers could start tracking down the shooters with the help of CCTV, before they had a chance to get too far. While it is cold comfort to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, the manner in which this incident was handled points to the ever-evolving enforcement approach to clamp down on the violence plaguing so many of our communities,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman Smith.
In another Metro Police success just an hour later, officers arrested two suspects, aged 21 and 22 in Mowbray on drug dealing charges.
Officers were on patrol in the area, when a member of the public flagged them down, and informed them of drug dealing taking place at a house in the area.
They requested permission to search the premises and found cocaine, tik and dagga with an estimated street value of R22 000, and more than R3 000 in cash.
In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the Metro Police Department made 68 arrests, including seven for driving under the influence of alcohol, and issued 4 606 traffic and by-law related fines.
Law Enforcement officers made 374 arrests for various transgressions in the past week.
On the roads, Traffic Officers recorded 53 526 offences, impounded 233 public transport vehicles and executed 1 813 warrants of arrest.
They made 53 arrests:
- 41 for driving under the influence of alcohol
- five for reckless and negligent driving
- seven for various other transgressions
‘We note that drunk drivers are being persistent in their disregard for the law. There have been copious warnings against breaking the law, and frankly, there are more than enough options available to people to party responsibly. So, if you are caught on the wrong side of the law, you will spend at least a part of the festive season behind bars,’ added Alderman Smith.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 807 incidents over a 48-hour period this past weekend.
Of these, 680 were medical complaints. The centre also recorded 94 fire incidents, 137 assault cases, 45 domestic violence incidents, 47 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents and 218 noise complaints.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
