A German tourist was scammed in Gardens by criminals dressed in ‘official uniforms’ on Saturday. Law enforcement warned that this is a common practice used to rob victims of their valuables.
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Upon learning of Saturday’s incident, information was quickly put out and members of the mayoral project and law enforcement responded.
The suspects, who used a vehicle to escape, were quickly identified and the police engaged in a high-speed chase. During the chase, the suspects caused a CCID vehicle to veer off the road.
Eventually, they were cornered and all four suspects were arrested. The vehicle they used was rented and had false number plates.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found various keypads used to record their victims’ ATM pin, a two-way radio used by security officers, clothing with security branding, a fake security officer’s ID card, and numerous ATM cards. The suspects were charged at Cape Town SAPS for multiple counts, including theft, fraud, possession of stolen property, and reckless and negligent driving.
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‘Most concerning is the fact that one of the suspects has already been arrested three times in the last nine years for ATM-related crimes, but continued to find loopholes in the criminal justice system that always saw him continue, undeterred,’ said Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
‘A growing trend around the world, we knew we had to do more. Last year we began working closely with the private banking sector and began receiving assistance in this regard, specifically on how to use legislation that ensures these types of charges stick. For the sake of furthering our enforcement in this regard, we need to keep their identity confidential, but already we have professionals within the banking sector we can call upon day or night when the need arises.’
‘This elite unit often assists the SAPS investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority as well, helping to see justice served on those arrested for their crimes.’
Speaking on the efforts of the mayoral project, law enforcement officers based in Cape Town CBD, Principle Inspector Ricardo Meyer was proud of the members achievements.
‘Our Tourism Unit is a very small unit, but we established it specifically to protect our valuable tourism industry for Cape Town, after we noted how many tourists were becoming victims within the CBD area. We try to police the hotspots in the area, offering assistance to our tourists where possible, but when we get intel on known suspects operating in the area or a crime that has just gone down, it’s all hands on deck and all of our members across the Mayoral-project, work together along with our neighbourhood watches and CID’s, to try and bring those responsible to justice. This is just one success for ATM-related crimes, we have already had so many similar ones, but I know our members are still going to do many more! Our tourism industry is a valuable source of job creation to so many residents across our City, some who rely on it as their only source of income. To criminals who think our tourists are easy targets, think again.’
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Picture: JP Smith/ Facebook