tip-offs
31 October 2007
Since the launch of the Primedia / South African Police Service (SAPS)
project Crime Line, 253 individuals have been arrested and R16,5 million worth
of goods have been seized by members of the South African Police Service.
The project, which is now entering its 22nd week, has recently led to
various types of drugs being removed from our communities as well as a number
of counterfeit DVD operations being closed down.
Over the past month, five cases of counterfeit DVDs and Play Station games
were reported to the SAPS in Gauteng anonymously via Crime Line. In one
instance in Sophiatown, a man was found in possession of over 7 000 counterfeit
DVDs with an estimated value of R1,5 million. He was arrested and charged for
contravening the copyright act.
In other cases, two persons were arrested for selling fake DVD's on the
corner of Klein and Bree Streets, central Johannesburg and one person in
Germiston was caught with 2 000 fake DVDs. After receiving information via
Crime Line, counterfeit movies and music CDs were also seized at premises in
Glen Avenue, Mondeor and at the Allandale off-ramp.
Between 1 and 31 October 2007, two suspicious motor vehicles were reported
to Crime Line resulting in a stolen BMW being retrieved in Brooklyn, Pretoria
and one being recovered in Brakpan on Gauteng's East Rand.
Five people were arrested for dealing in drugs in Westridge, Mitchell's
Plein after police reacted to an anonymous SMS to 32211. The suspects, four
women and a man were found on premises with 17 packets of tik, five rocks and
Mandrax.
There were also four arrests for drug dealing in Gauteng during October 2007
in Brixton, Sandton, Katlehong and Boksburg. Quantities of dagga and cocaine
were seized during the arrests.
Police members reacted to various other tip-offs, resulting in a variety of
drugs, which had been abandoned when the suspects fled from police, being
seized. Although the suspected drug dealers were not arrested in these cases,
we are confident that police actions will serve as a deterrent to future drug
deals in those areas.
Police also arrested a thief red-handed while attempting to steal computers
from premises in Ennerdale, Gauteng. We thank civic-minded community members
for reporting crime and criminals, but would like to remind them that crimes
that are about to happen â or are happening â should preferably be reported to
the 10111 emergency number or to a police station. Fortunately in this case,
the SMS message was received and relayed quickly, allowing the police to catch
the perpetrator in the act.
The value of all goods seized by police since during October amounts to
approximately R1,7 million.
Director Sally de Beer of the National Police Commissioner's Office said:
"This partnership between the SAPS, Primedia and the public is working well and
we are glad that more and more people are blowing the whistle on
criminals."
"We urge the community to continue to break their silence. National
Commissioner, Jackie Selebi, has again appealed to the public to pass on
information to Crime Line. 'We must continue to grow the culture of tipping-off
the SAPS via Crime Line.' Please be specific and give as much details of the
offenders as possible," de Beer said.
Primedia's Crime Line manager, Yusuf Abramjee added: "The anti-crime
campaign is contributing to a safer South Africa. We also need to get to the
'big fish.' If anyone has information about syndicates, please SMS 32211 or go
to http://www.crimeline.co.za.
"Don't protect cash heist kingpins, bank robbers, armed robbers, burglars,
hijackers, ATM bombers, drug lords and drug peddlers, rapists, murderers, white
collar criminals and other criminals. Crime Line is anonymous â use it! We
promise no comebacks," said Abramjee.
Meanwhile, Abramjee and two senior SAPS representatives, Assistant
Commissioner Vinesh Moonoo and Senior Supt Attie Lambrecht from Detective
Services, will represent South Africa at the annual Crime Stoppers
International World Conference in Bermuda next week.
"We will share the South African experience of Crime Line with delegates
from throughout the world. Many countries, including the United Kingdom (UK),
India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia have already shown interest in SMS
tip-offs."
"South Africa was one of the first countries to launch it and its success
has impressed the world. While we will be sharing our successes, we will also
be learning from other countries about ways of fighting crime involving public
participation during the five day conference," said Abramjee.
Abramjee added that various local companies and non-governmental
organisations (NGO) have shown interest in Crime Line since its launch in June.
"We have entered into some partnerships and will be extending it. We are also
bringing other media partners on board soon who will be supporting Crime
Line."
Issued by: South African Police Service
31 October 2007
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za)
