Ghost squad nets 22 suspects in illegal street racing operations
14 September 2020
The arrests accounted for one third of the overall arrest tally of 63, between Cape Town Traffic and Metro Police in the last week. Officers also impounded 80 vehicles and 136 cell phones and issued 64 570 fines for various transgressions.
The City’s Traffic Services held various Illegal street racing enforcement operations, which appear to be on the increase once more. During such an operation in Sea Point on 6 September 2020, officers suspended 35 vehicles for being unroadworthy.
During another illegal street racing operation held in Bellville South and Century City areas on Thursday, 10 September 2020, officers arrested five suspects - four for reckless and negligent driving and one for driving under the influence of alcohol.
On the same evening, Officers attached to the Ghost squad were on patrol when three motorcyclists sped past them on the N1 near Durban Road. The officers immediately gave chase and caught up to the superbikes on the M5, between Berkley Road and the N2, where the motorcyclists were arrested.
The trio was detained at Maitland police station where they were charged with reckless and negligent driving.
Officers were able to pursue and catch up to speedsters in the new high performance vehicles the Ghost Squad has acquired. Members of the squad went for advanced driving training so they are able to handle the vehicles safely at high speeds.
On Saturday, 12 September 2020, officers conducted an operation in the Athlone and Mitchells Plain areas, where they arrested 19 suspects. Six of those were collared for reckless and negligent driving and 11 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
‘Reckless and negligent driving is a serious offence as it not only puts the life of the driver and passengers at risk, but also other road users. The number of drunk driving arrests during the same operations is an indicator that these offences are usually linked. It is absolutely mind-boggling that, despite the many deaths that have come about because of drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving, people still get behind the wheel and engage in this type of behaviour,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Metro Police
Officers conducted patrols in various areas which led to the arrest of nine suspects for crimes such as shoplifting, sexual assault, malicious damage to property and attempted house breaking, possession of drugs and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
On Saturday, 12 September 2020, officers patrolling Hanover Park was approached by a member of public informing them that his LDV was stolen. While patrolling the area, the complainant positively identified his vehicle which was parked at a garage with an unknown male person in the driver’s seat. Upon interviewing the driver, he could not produce any documentation of ownership, which the owner produced to the officers. The 35-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and detained at Philippi SAPS.
On Thursday, 10 September 2020, the City’s CCTV cameras once again proved to be an important tool in crime prevention and early detection of suspicious activity. Officers operating the CCTV cameras in the control room spotted a male person, accompanied by three other individuals pushing a motorcycle in Cape Town. The suspect was seen forcing open the delivery box and removing it from the motorcycle, along with a helmet, gloves and a black jacket. SAPS and CCID were dispatched and directed to the suspects’ location, while the camera operator followed them via their camera foot print.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 32 were apprehended at the corner of Church and Long Street. They could not account for ownership of the motorcycle and were arrested for theft of a motorcycle and detained at Cape Town Central SAPS.
'The integrated approach by our enforcement agencies is important in crime prevention to safeguard our streets against criminal activities. Our support to SAPS and other enforcement agencies shows to pay off with successful arrests. The next step towards successful prosecution is dependent on the criminal justice system. We hope that the system will be more effective and that offenders will be brought to book and have their day in court. In recent weeks we have seen that criminals out on parole will not hesitate to commit the same or more serious offences, ' added Alderman Smith.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
