Cape Town - A quick-thinking resident helped assist LEAP officers in arrest two of the seven suspects that were busted for robbing victims in Mfuleni.
LEAP officers are law enforcement officers that have been trained and equipped to supplement the police resources at stations that are worst-affected by violent crime.
On 31 January at around noon, LEAP officers on patrol received information about a group of suspects who were robbing victims in the vicinity of Parliament Street.
Alerts were circulated and officers identified two vehicles matching the description of the suspects’ cars. LEAP officers approached the vehicles, at which two suspects fled the scene on foot.
“A chase ensued through a takeaway's shop and over the back wall, where both suspects tried hiding within a room of the house situated in the residential area behind.
“A quick-thinking resident locked both suspects into the room, until officers arrived and arrested the last two remaining suspects,” Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said.
“A total of seven suspects were arrested, including two female suspects that were handed over to SAPS (South African Police Service),” Smith said.
“Both vehicles were seized, as well as several items suspected to be stolen property that were recovered, along with 100 rounds of high-powered R5 assault rifle ammunition.”
Smith said the “excellent arrest” confirmed the feared suspicion that criminal syndicates were arming themselves with high-powered automatic weapons.
“Already significant efforts are under way to expand the City of Cape Town's Metro Police Tactical Response Unit,” he said.
“This elite SWAT-styled unit makes use of advanced weaponry that can better match the artillery that is now been taken up by gang syndicates within the City.
“Ready to deploy within minutes, this unit will react to incidents across our municipality but will also stand ready to assist any of the SAPS precincts when called upon.”