Cape Town: South African Police Service (SAPS) Officers made seven arrests in less than 48 hours and recovered a number of stolen items. Some of the suspects are also linked to cases from other parts of the country.
Reportedly, the traffic officers arrested two robbery suspects in Athlone this morning (dated Jan 09, 2025). Three suspects robbed a pedestrian situated along Jakes Gerwel Drive and then fled towards Bridgetown. Officers chased and caught two of them but the third person got away.
The victim arrived at Athlone SAPS office, where she identified her belongings and recognised the suspects who were charged with robbery along with possession of stolen property and of a dangerous weapon, such as a dagger.
As per the sources, traffic officers on Tuesday, Jan 07, 2025 was on patrol in Muizenberg when they received the information of a remote jamming or theft out of motor vehicle incident that had occurred in the Kirstenhof area. Soon they spotted the vehicle which was heading in the direction of Sunrise Circle and pulled over the driver.
SAPS officers found a number of items in the vehicle, including a remote jamming device with false licence plates, implemented to break into cars and the items tat had been reported stolen in the remote jamming incidents.
According to the reports, four suspects aged between 25 and 33 were apprehended for possession of stolen property, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of car breaking implements, fraud, remote jamming and theft out of motor vehicle.
Moreover, it also transpired that they are wanted in connection with crimes committed in Gqeberha. On same day, the officers also received information about a vehicle driving around the Wynberg area that matched the description of a car which was stolen in Delft in December 2024.
The officers also found the vehicle in Constantia and an investigation on the registration and VIN confirmed that the stolen vehicle was reported. The driver was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle as well as fraud for licence documents and was detained at Diep River SAPS.
Expressing his concern, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that these incidents remind them that, while a lot of emphasis is on road safety and curbing drunk and reckless driving, the traffic officers do so much.
Smith explained, “I’m particularly pleased with the arrest of the remote jamming suspects. It appears that they were engaged in criminal activities in more than one province.”
He added that he hopes that the investigators will be able to piece together all of their alleged misdeeds and that they are appropriately punished.
However, the criminals have stepped up their game and remote jamming is far more than commonplace. “I want to appeal to motorists and their passengers to double check their doors and boot that are locked to minimise the risk of falling victim to this type of crime,” concluded JP Smith.