The communities of South Africa are getting involved in the fight against crime by providing anonymous tip-offs on criminal activities in their neighbourhoods.
During July 2014, tip-offs to Crime Stop (08600 10111 phone line) and Crime Line (32211 SMS number) resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals in six provinces, namely Gauteng, Western Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The majority of the arrests were for the possession of and dealing in drugs such as dagga, cocaine, mandrax and chrystal meth. Three individuals were arrested for dealing in drugs and 15 for being in possession of drugs.
Three persons were arrested for fraud as a result of tip-offs last month. One of them was a wanted suspect who was arrested on a warrant of arrest in Honeydew, Gauteng. One suspect was arrested with a fraudulent credit card and another with a fraudulent identity document.
Two persons were arrested for the importation of Schedule 6 substances without having the necessary permit. Medication with a value of approximately R1.5 million was seized at OR Tambo International Airport during this arrest.
Three of the cases reported anonymously which proved to be positive related to contraventions in terms of selling liquor.
In another instance, a hijacked Land Rover Freelander was found in Dobsonville, Gauteng, after it had been abandoned.
Head of Crime Line, Yusuf Abramjee, encouraged the public to continue blowing the whistle on crime.
“Tipoffs work. It is every citizen’s moral and civic obligation to speak out against crime and criminals. Your tips are anonymous,” he said.
Abramjee added that the on-going Crime Line and Crime Stop successes proved that “the role of the public in assisting police to fight crime is of paramount importance.
These sentiments are shared by the National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega. “The South African Police Service thanks all civic-minded citizens who heed the call to become involved in the fight against crime. Any contribution, including making an anonymous tip-off via the Crime Stop or Crime Line numbers, is truly appreciated. No offence is too minor to report,” said Phiyega.
“A person involved in minor crimes could well turn to committing more serious and violent crimes,” she added.