Since Friday 21 February 2020, officers in the Mount Road Cluster achieved significant successes in recovering three firearms in separate incidents.
On Friday, 21 February 2020 at about 07:20 the Gelvandale Tracing Team were patrolling in Helenvale when they received information of suspicious persons at the corners of Leith and Baatjies Street. At the same time, they heard the sound of gunshots and immediately proceeded in the direction. Two males were seen running towards them. The members stopped and after searching them, they found nothing on them. The members then searched the surrounding area and they found a CZ 9mm pistol lying in the grass patch in Leith Street. A toy gun was also found in the same street.
The firearm was reported stolen in Despatch in August 2019. The firearm will be sent for ballistics analysis. An enquiry docket is opened for investigation.
In another incident, SAPS Bethelsdorp members arrested a 17-year-old teenager for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after they found him in possession of a CZ 9mm firearm. It is alleged that on Saturday, 22 February 2020 at about 04:50, the members were patrolling the hotspot streets in Arcadia when they spotted a male standing at the corners of Bakkiesblom and Bloukappie Streets.
When they stopped, they noticed him holding a firearm in his hand. On seeing the police, he threw the firearm in the yard and started to walk away. He was arrested and detained on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Ownership of the firearm is still to be determined. A replica toy gun was also found in Booysens Park Drive in Booysens Park.
A 32-year-old suspect was arrested on Saturday, 22 February 2020 at Kudu Flats in Gould Street in Sidwell after police responded to information of unknown males with firearms at the flats. At about 22:10, as Anti Gang Unit members proceeded on foot on the 6th floor of the building, they noticed a male running in the passage. The members chased after him and followed him into a flat. He was caught tossing a 9mm pistol firearm into a wardrobe. The suspect was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The firearm was stolen in Cambridge in October 2019.
A total of three stolen firearms were confiscated since Friday, 21 February 2020.
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