A motor vehicle that was stolen in Westdene and recovered within hours, was one of several successes of the SAPS in the Free State this past week.
Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, spokesperson for the SAPS, says more than 800 people were arrested in the Free State.
The victim alleged that her bag and car keys were stolen while two women draw her attention. The bag was stolen by another person.
The police worked with the tracking company and located the vehicle parked at a tavern in Mangaung. Two suspects were arrested and three more suspects including the two female women, were aprehended. The victim’s personal belongings were recovered.
All five districts in the Free State province took part in the high-density, multi-disciplinary operation Shanela backed up by intelligence-led information to ensure that criminals were brought to justice.
In the fight against drug abuse, members, with the help of the communities, managed to arrest eight suspects for dealing in drugs and fifty for possession of drugs such as cocaine, dagga, crystal meth, nyaope and mandrax. Eight suspects were arrested for robberies and 37 were booked for possession of dangerous weapons.
Two suspects were arrested for rape and 125 suspects were arrested for assault.
Thirteen people were arrested for driving while under the influence, while 66 people were arrested for being illegal in the country.
Kareli says infrastructure damage is placed as one of the priorities in the province, which led to the recovery of copper cables and arrests. Eight robbery suspects were detained and 29 suspects were arrested for burglaries, while 14 were arrested in for malicious damage to property.
The police further arrested 351 suspects during tracing operations throughout the five districts.
More than 105 suspects were also arrested for other crimes, such as traffic violations and contraventions of the Secondhand Goods Act.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motsoenyane, says crime combating operations have an enormous impact on stabilising the communities.
Motsoenyane encouraged police members to continue putting the interests of the public they serve first.
“This is slowly having a positive ripple effect as the community regains trust in the police service. We can’t win this battle without the involvement of our communities. The police will continue with this clean-up operation,” said Motswenyane.
