| Officers and Neighbourhood Watch rescue elderly hijacked passenger | Officers and Neighbourhood Watch rescue elderly hijacked passenger | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/DSC_7899.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town’s Metro Police officers, along with members from a neighbourhood watch, rescued a passenger from a hijacked vehicle yesterday, minutes after the vehicle was taken. This is one of a number of success stories from the City’s enforcement departments. <br></p> | <span><p>Traffic Service and the Law Enforcement Department arrested 225 suspects and issued 68 454 fines during enforcement operations the past week. The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 867 incidents over the weekend.</p><p>On Sunday, 18 February 2024, Metro Police officers recovered a hijacked vehicle soon after it was stolen from Belgravia Road, Athlone. <br></p><p>The driver of the vehicle, who was with her 88-year-old passenger, drove the vehicle off the property where she left it idling to fetch something from the house. An unknown man appeared, held the passenger at gun point and drove off with her still in the vehicle.</p><p>Members of the local Neighbourhood Watch, who witnessed the incident, followed and informed Metro Police officers who were conducting crime prevention patrols at the corner of Klipfontein and Belgravia Roads .</p><p>Officers reacted swiftly and continued with the pursuit of the hijacked vehicle.<br></p><p><br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/WOPS%2019224%201.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1498px;" /> </figure></span>Driving recklessly, the driver refused to stop and collided with at least two other motor vehicles.<br><br><span><p>Officers managed to corner him and stopped the vehicle on Racecourse Road between Melomed Hospital and Access Park, Kenilworth where the suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran away trying to avoid arrest. Officers gave chase and he was soon arrested. <br></p><p>The 40-year-old suspect was detained at the Athlone South African Police Station and charged with possession of a suspected hijacked motor vehicle, kidnapping, resisting arrest and reckless and negligent driving.<br></p><p>Officers assisted the traumatised passenger who was transported by ambulance to Groote Schuur hospital for further assistance and trauma counselling.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/WOPS%2019224.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:757px;" /> </figure></span><p><strong>TRAFFIC SERVICE </strong></p><p>Officers conducted roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations during which 63 672 fines were issued, 205 public transport vehicles were impounded and 3 260 warrants of arrest executed.<br></p><p>Officers also arrested 40 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol and five for reckless and negligent driving.<br></p><p>'The swift action by officers and the local neighbourhood watch members in Athlone yesterday who came to the rescue of the 88-year-old passenger showed the importance of enforcement patrols in suburbs. I would like to commend the local Neigbourhood Watch who acted and followed the vehicle and informed our officers. This is an example of an effective working relationship between our enforcement agencies and Neighbourhood Watches in communities. Neighbourhood Watches are an important link between community members and our enforcement officers in crime prevention and in the sharing of information which could lead to arrests and getting criminals off the street and out of communities,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.<br></p><p><strong>PUBLIC EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTRE (PECC) </strong></p><p>The PECC recorded 1 867 incidents over the weekend. <br></p><p>Of the calls received, 728 were medical related of which 123 were physical assault related. This included 16 cases of assault with a firearm. Domestic violence cases reported amounted to 59 calls for assistance. <br></p><p>The PECC also dealt with 49 motor vehicle accidents. <br></p><p><strong>LAW ENFORCEMENT</strong></p><p>In the early hours of Sunday, 18 February 2024, officers on patrol at the Lions Head parking area were stopped by three persons sitting in their vehicle. They informed the officers that they had just been held at gun point and robbed by three suspects. Officers received a description of one of the suspects who had apparently tripped and rolled down into the bushes at the parking area when the incident had occurred. Officers then shined a spotlight into the bushes and noticed the suspect walking under the street lights on Kloof Street. <br></p><p>Officers immediately drove to the area on Kloof Street and arrested the suspect. The suspect was detained at Central SAPS on charges of armed robbery and attempted hijacking. The other two suspects are still at large.<br></p><p>During general enforcement patrols, officers arrested 180 suspects and issued 4 882 fines for various transgressions during weekly enforcement operations. Of the arrests made, Law Enforcement Advancement Plan officers accounted for 123 arrests (representing 96 percent). Of these arrests, 123 were drug related. <br></p><p>Residents are reminded to phone 021 480 77 00 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline to report an emergency or criminal activity. <br></p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><br></p> | 2024-02-18T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#633591e2-ed41-4816-9750-3d5f5090deda;L0|#0633591e2-ed41-4816-9750-3d5f5090deda|illegal activity;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#4bcb251f-1166-4a1c-8ee5-d33721046dec;L0|#04bcb251f-1166-4a1c-8ee5-d33721046dec|law enforcement;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
