Cape Town - Following the launch of the SAPS festive crime-fighting initiative – “A country in blue” – police are cracking down on suspects involved in criminal incidents.
Over the weekend, police arrested 57 suspects on various charges including murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms and drugs.
Police also seized more than 1 200 litres of alcohol from premises that were found to be operating outside curfew hours.
In Browns Farm, police arrested three men in Tshishi Street while tracking a stolen vehicle. However, several other suspects believed to also be involved in the incident managed to evade arrest.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said: “With the festive season on our doorstep, we have turned up the heat on criminality in this province and conducted several crime operations in crime-infested areas to create a safer environment for the Western Cape community.
“Police were tracing a stolen Toyota Quantum in Browns Farm when the tracker signalled police to Tshishi Street. Three suspects aged 21, 28 and 31 were arrested while stripping the stolen vehicle, and six suspects evaded arrest.
“One of the suspects was found armed with an unlicensed firearm and was charged accordingly. Police are still searching for the remaining suspects,” said Traut.
In Nyanga, police recovered an unlicensed firearm from a suspect who was fatally wounded while attempting to hijack a complainant’s Toyota Avanza in Govan Mbeki Drive, Browns Farm.
Meanwhile, in Delft, Freedom Farm police attached to the Lockdown II forces arrested a 30-year-old suspect who was caught in possession of 94 parcels of dagga following a community tip-off.
In Samora Machel, police recovered 34 cellphones, which were stolen during a business robbery in Gugulethu. The suspects are, however, still being sought.
“Those who broke the law will have to answer for their deeds when they are due to make their respective court appearances,” said Traut.