Since we celebrated the first year anniversary of the Crime Line initiative on 12 June 2008, 39 individuals have been arrested and R340 000 worth of goods seized bringing the total number of arrests effected to 506 and total value of items confiscated to R20,4 million.
Over the past two months, as a direct result of anonymous tip-offs to 32211 orhttp://www.crimeline.co.za, 22 arrests were affected in Gauteng, 14 in the Western Cape and three in the Free State.
The majority of the arrests were in connection with dealing in and possession of drugs and a variety of drugs, including dagga, cocaine, TIK, heroin, mandrax and ecstasy have been seized.
In one case in Gauteng, an anonymous tip-off advised of a smash-and-grab gang operating at the corner of Honey Street and Joe Slovo Drive in Yeoville. Police immediately followed up and arrested two men in possession of spark plugs which they were using to smash vehicle's windows and grab the occupant's possessions.
In another case, police officials, reacting to a Crime Line tip-off, found the information to be negative but while at the premises mentioned in the anonymous SMS, noticed a suspicious vehicle driving past. The vehicle was stopped and proved to be stolen, leading to the arrest of two men.
In Honeydew a tip-off led to the discovery of R200 000 worth of cycads, one of which had a chip embedded which indicated that it had been stolen in Mpumalanga. A docket has been opened and is being investigated.
As the Crime Line initiative grows from strength to strength, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Primedia thanks the civic-minded community members who are reporting crime and urge all to join hands to rid our beautiful country of ruthless criminals.
Director Sally de Beer, spokesperson in the Office of the National Commissioner, said: "Let's continue to use 32211 and http://www.crimeline.co.za to blow the whistle on criminals. We also appeal to the public to ensure that the tip-offs are as detailed as possible – too many tip-offs cannot be followed up because of lack of adequate information."
Head of Primedia's Crime Line, Yusuf Abramjee, said: "Crime Line is effective and we must also target the organised crime syndicates. Through many partnerships, including that with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Algoa FM, community radio stations, other media partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporates, the message is fast spreading to all parts of the country. Primedia has also extended its marketing campaign of Crime Line to its many media assets across the country."
Contact:
Director Sally de Beer
Tel: 012 393 1574
Fax: 012 393 2165
Cell: 082 779 8658
E-mail: debeers@saps.org.za
Issued by: South African Police Service and Primedia
26 August 2008
