A total of 67 people were arrested during a crime prevention operation dubbed “Operation Lungisa” in Bloemfontein over the weekend.
The crime prevention operation aimed at complementing and enhancing effective deployment efforts by the police stations in the inner city of Bloemfontein, to increase visibility. Police say the operation was a contribution towards crime prevention and ensuring that communities feel free and safe for the coming festive season.
According to the spokesperson, Chaka Marope, operational police members from nine stations within the Park Road cluster, including members from the provincial components, geared themselves and embarked on a number of crime prevention activities.
“These activities included roving roadblocks, stop and searches, raiding of hot-spot areas and tracing of wanted suspects. In total 30 of the arrested people were charged with liquor-related offences such as drunken driving, drinking in public and disorderly conduct. Five of the suspects were arrested for possession of dangerous weapons, six were arrested for the possession of suspected stolen goods, three for street robberies, while other arrests included seven for dealing with drugs, five for dealing with dagga and one for dealing in counterfeit goods.”
He also mentioned that police arrested 11 immigrants for being in the country without the proper documentation.
“In other traffic-related offences, a total of 70 vehicles were stopped and searched and 15 traffic fines were issued. Fines issued were mainly for unroadworthy vehicles, driving without permits, driving without licences and other traffic violations. Tracing operations by the dedicated detectives yielded in the arrest of nine wanted suspects in the various parts across Bloemfontein and Mangaung. They were arrested for offences ranging from murder, rape, hijacking, robbery, housebreaking, theft and assault,” said Marope.
He explained that all the arrested suspects were charged and detained at the respective police stations, and they are all due to appear at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon, for various charges.
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