Clampdown on drugs

Cape Town Central police are clamping down on drugs in the city centre, arresting more than 100 people for drug-related incidents in the past week.

From Monday May 7 until Friday May 11, police arrested 61 people for possession of drugs such as dagga, mandrax, heroin, tik and unga.

They subsequently arrested another 43 people during the weekend, from Friday May 11 until Monday May 14, for possession of tik, unga, dagga, mandrax pills and mandrax powder near Old Marine Drive and Strand, Darling, Castle and Tennant streets.

They had also arrested 19 people for drug-related crime in Hope, Long, Strand, Napier, Hout, Penz, Wale, Selkirk, Chapel, Rose, Constitution and Bloemhof streets, as well as Signal Hill Drive between Friday May 4 and Saturday May 5.

* Eighteen people were arrested for shoplifting in Adderley, Strand, Long Street and Mill streets from Monday May 7 until Sunday May 13.

* Three people were arrested last week for being in possession of dangerous weapons, including one explosive flare. Seven people were also arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen property.

* On Thursday May 10, Cape Town Central police arrested three men for burgling a business in Castle Street where they allegedly took bags and clothing.

* On Friday May 4, Cape Town Central police arrested a man accused of rape at a block of flats in Buitenkant Street.

The man had apparently been in the same club as the victim and offered to pay her taxi fare.

They went inside the man’s flat and that’s when the woman was allegedly raped.

* On Saturday May 5, police arrested a man for robbery on the corner of Harrington and Darling streets.

The man had grabbed someone’s phone and ran away.

The victim screamed for help and a nearby security guard called for backup that led to the arrest of the man.

The victim was able to identify her cellphone, which was recovered by the police.

According to the Sea Point police station’s acting station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Christo Engelbrecht, there has been an increase in crime in Green Point and Sea Point.

Lieutenant Colonel Engelbrecht said theft out of motor vehicles continues to be a priority crime.

Sea Point police spokesperson, Captain Elizabeth Munro, said most vehicles involved were targeted because owners had left their valuables where criminals could see them.

She said police and the neighbourhood watch had gone on an awareness drive “to inform the community about being vigilant when it comes to this type of crime in Sea Point precinct”.

Captain Munro said items reported stolen included handbags, cellphones, laptops, computer equipment, clothing and jewellery.

She said Sea Point police have since increased their patrols and visibility in the areas and arrests have been made for theft out of motor vehicle and for possession of suspected stolen property.

Motorists are asked to remove valuable items from their vehicles, keep their doors locked at all times, park in well-lit areas at night, checking that their vehicles are locked, and always activating the alarm system.

Residents are urged to visit the police station to identify their items and bring along proof such as the serial numbers of stolen items.