Eye in the sky assists with enforcement operations
14 August 2023
The City’s Traffic Service, Metro Police and Law Enforcement Departments arrested 175 suspects and issued 13 743 fines during weekly enforcement operations. The Metro Police CCTV control room identified various crime incidents which resulted in at least six suspects being arrested.
Metro Police officers arrested 28 suspects of whom 12 were for illegal possession of drugs and two for driving under the influence of alcohol. Officers also issued 667 fines which included 582 traffic fines and 85 by-law related transgressions.
On Saturday evening, 12 August 2023 an operator monitoring the CCTV surveillance cameras detected a male suspect looking into parked vehicles in Orange Street, CBD next to the Mount Nelson Hotel. He walked to the corner, gave his bag to a female and walked back to a Maroon Nissan Sabre vehicle where he smashed the window, took a bag and ran in the direction of Hof Street. Law enforcement officers were immediately dispatched, where they arrested the suspect in Hof Street for theft from a motor vehicle. The suspect, aged 24, was detained at Cape Town Central South African Police Service(SAPS).
Early on Friday morning, 11 August 2023, CCTV cameras detected two males vandalising and trying to remove the metal gates at the entrance of Government Avenue. The Camera Response Unit (CRU) was dispatched from the CCTV control room. Upon arrival, officers managed to apprehend two suspects and found a hammer, a chisel as well as a metal pole in their possession. The suspects, aged 29 and 40, were arrested for malicious damage to property and taken to Cape Town SAPS.
During another incident, CCTV cameras at Beach and Church Streets, Sea Point, detected a male suspect preparing what-looked-like illegal substances. Law Enforcement officers reacted and searched the male suspect. Illegal drugs were found in his possession and the 28-year old was taken to Sea Point SAPS.
On the same day, officers reacted to gunshots fired in Depsidon Street, Lavender Hill and saw two males running from the scene. While pursuing the suspects, one of them threw an object over the fence of a nearby premises. Officers recovered a 38 Special revolver with the serial number filed off, with one live round and four spent cartridges, which was booked in at Steenberg SAPS for further investigation.
On Thursday, 10 August 2023, at approximately 21:40, a CCTV operator detected two males selling suspected illegal substances at Buitengracht Road and Pepper Street, Cape Town.
Officers from the CRU were dispatched to investigate. Upon arrival, officers searched the suspects and found Dagga and a full crushed Mandrax tablet, including R 505,00 in cash on one of the suspects. The suspect, aged 33 years, was arrested for possession and dealing in drugs and detained at Cape Town SAPS.
TRAFFIC SERVICE
During weekly enforcement operations, officers issued 11 980 fines and arrested 12 suspects – eight for driving under the influence of alcohol, one for reckless and negligent driving and three for a stolen vehicle, false documentation, and assault on an officer, respectively
Officers also executed 729 warrants of arrest.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
During the past week, the City's Law Enforcement officers conducted more than 370 enforcement operations, where officers arrested 135 suspects and issued 1 095 fines. Officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan accounted for nearly 123 of the arrests.
'The City's enforcement agencies dealt with a lot of challenges during the past week and the number of successful arrests is testament to the hard work and dedication by our officers to ensure a safer road and community environment. Arrests made with the assistance of our CCTV network once again showed how effective technology can be in fighting crime. Confiscation of drugs by our officers is helping to stop further crime and the destruction of innocent lives. We will continue with crime prevention initiatives throughout the metropole and will work closely with the South African Police Service, communities and Neighbourhood Watches,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
