Over 350 people end up behind bars in the Garden Route. Image by Arrive Alive via Twitter
Garden Route: Police arrest 362 in weekend crime combating operations
Police in the Garden Route had a successful weekend. Over 350 suspects were handcuffed following a special operation in the district.
Over 350 people end up behind bars in the Garden Route. Image by Arrive Alive via Twitter
The arrest of 362 people on the Garden Route probably surprised many in this part of the Western Cape.
GARDEN ROUTE SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR ARRAY OF OFFENCES
Of the 362 suspects, 268 were apprehended last weekend. The charges range from the low offences of breaking COVID-19 laws to the extremes of illegal firearm possession. The law officials’ action plan came with a full force of strategic deployment of integrated forces after it was noted that the Garden Route area is faced with growing crime.
“This weekend’s operations included high visibility patrols in crime-stricken areas, roadblocks, stop and search operations with a special focus on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, the tracing of wanted suspects, and the confiscation of dangerous weapons,” Road Safety said in a statement on their website and as shared by Arrive Alive on Twitter.
“Most of the arrested suspects will make their court appearance in the local magistrates’ court tomorrow, Monday, 06 September 2021, once charged whilst others were released on a warning to appear in court at a later stage or pay an admission of guilt fine for DMA transgressions,” the report note on the Garden Route added.
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ONE SUSPECT FOUND WITH A CAR THAT WAS STOLEN IN KZN
With every dramatic number of arrests, there is always that one prime offender worth a highlight and it’s no different to this Garden Route report. A man was arrested while on foot between George and Knysna, before he later directed police to a bakkie that was reported stolen in Ladismith last week.
“Yesterday, Saturday, 04 September 2021, members attached to the George Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) acted on information received about a stolen Toyota bakkie that might be en route to George. The bakkie was stolen in Ladismith earlier the day. They operationalized the information and whilst patrolling in Knysna Road, George, saw a suspicious man, hiking towards Knysna. They stopped and interrogated the suspect who was found to fit the description of the one who allegedly stole the bakkie. Upon further investigation, the suspect took the members to the George CBD where he pointed out the location of the parked bakkie,” the report continued.
“Subsequently, he was arrested and the bakkie was handed in as evidence. The 39-year-old suspect from Hoekwil near George will be transferred to Ladismith SAPS holding cells to appear in the Ladismith magistrates’ court on a charge of Theft of motor vehicle later this week,” the assertion added.
Additionally, other suspected offenders found themselves in police vans for tik, dagga, and khat drugs possession. The suspects are due to appear in the Garden Route’s George Magistrate’s Court on various dates.
