Spree robbers caught red-handed; drunk driving arrests more than triple
24 November 2024
The City of Cape Town’s enforcement departments had a busy week as officers nabbed a quartet of spree robbers and drunk driving arrests soared.
Traffic officers were on patrol in Eerste River yesterday, Sunday, 24 November, when they spotted a white vehicle with four occupants.
The officers followed them and saw one of the occupants jump out and rob a woman of her cellphone.
Officers chased the vehicle down and arrested the three men and a woman.
They were found in possession of three cellphones, a wallet and cash; and have been linked to a spree of robberies in the area.
The men were detained at Kleinvlei police station and the woman was transferred to Mfuleni SAPS, on charges of robbery and the possession of stolen goods.
‘I commend our officers for their situational awareness and stopping this group in their tracks. As we count down to the festive season, I want to remind the public that criminals exploit this time of year for their own shopping sprees, so please be incredibly vigilant about your physical safety, but also your online safety. Keep your valuables out of sight and don’t get distracted when you’re shopping or out and about,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
In the past week, Traffic and Metro Police officers made 105 arrests for drunk driving.
This is more than triple last week’s 27 drunk driving arrests.
‘We’re off to a boozy start and this does not bode well for the weeks ahead. At best you will be arrested, spend time in jail and have a criminal record. Our accident statistics speak for themselves. This is not the gift you want to give yourself or your loved ones, so don’t drink and drive,’ said Alderman Smith.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 1 823 incidents this past weekend, including 119 cases of assault, 424 medical calls, 231 noise nuisance calls, 87 domestic violence incidents, and 60 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
‘The previous weekend, 48 domestic violence calls were received and the spike is disconcerting. As we come up on a time when there is a focus on gender based violence, I encourage our communities to stand together against the attacks on our women and children,’ added Alderman Smith.
Metro Police officers arrested 93 people and confiscated a number of drugs, including 105 bundles of Khat and 25 packets of Tik.
Law Enforcement officers made 138 arrests and issued 6 805 notices for various by-law offences. In one incident, officers approached a vehicle in Plantation Road, Wetton on Friday, 22 November and found the two occupants were in possession of railway overhead cables they could not account for.
The men were arrested for the possession of stolen property and taken to Lansdowne SAPS.
Residents are reminded to report any criminal activity or emergency by contacting the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
