BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bongani Mlangeni
27 December 2006
Pretoria — Over 400 people were arrested at the weekend in the East Rand for crimes raging from rape and attempted murder to possession of unlicensed firearms.
Spokesman for the Gauteng police, Superintendent Andy Pieke said some of the suspects arrested included 44 illegal immigrants.
"Suspects were also arrested for robbery, assault, housebreaking, fraud, shoplifting, possession of stolen goods and driving under the influence of alcohol," he said.
Most of the arrests, were for liquor related offences. In addition, police seized four unlicensed firearms.
Police stations which reported the most arrests were Katlehong, Vosloorus, Duduza and Alberton.
Eleven suspects were expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate's court today on suspicion of being in possession of stolen goods.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday in Germiston after found in possession of television sets with no invoices.
Superintendent Pieke said members of the crime combating unit made the arrests after they stopped a truck along Power Street, which was found carrying 63 Sansui television sets and two DVD players.
"None of the eleven occupants of the truck could allegedly provide a reasonable explanation why they were in possession of the goods and no invoices could be produced," he said.
More than 700 law enforcement authorities including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police departments and Road Traffic Inspectorates are conducting joint operations aimed at eliminating crime during the festive season.
Road blocks are being conducted throughout the country's major roads and high performance vehicles have been deployed in the central business districts and in areas identified as vulnerable crime areas.
As part of its new tactics to combat violent and serious crime in the country SAPS will be making greater use of their air wing as well as South African National Defence Force Helicopters.
They will use these to transport the equipment needed for roadblocks much faster.
Police will scan fingerprints at roadblocks with Morpho Touch machines, which are linked to a central database of wanted suspects.
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