PORT ELIZABETH – Police in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro are turning the tide against crime and are ensuring that their presence is felt everywhere.
MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED
On Saturday, 7 December 2019, the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit (Gang Investigations) arrested a 19-year-old gang affiliate shortly after a murder was reported in Bakkiesblom Street in Arcadia in Bethelsdorp.
It is alleged that on the above-mentioned date at about 10:00, Gilbert Peterson (60) was working on a burnt out vehicle in front of the house when the suspect walked up to him, pulled out a firearm and started shooting at him. Peterson sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and died on the scene. The suspect ran away. The suspect was known and a short while later he was arrested at a house in Staiden Street in Arcadia. He is expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth magistrates’ court on Monday, 9 December 2019 on a charge of murder.
STOLEN FIREARM RECOVERED
In another incident, last night 07 December 2019, Anti-Gang Unit members recovered a stolen revolver in Shauderville. It is alleged that at about 21:50, AGU were responding to information received about a group of suspicious males in Glendenning Street. On arrival, they found 3 males and when they saw the police vehicle, they started running. A foot chase ensued and one suspect was seen running into a yard in Gelvan Street. He managed to get away but police members searched the yard and found a revolver which was reported stolen in Jeffreys Bay in August 2019. No one was at the house at the time.
An enquiry docket was opened and the revolver will be sent to forensics for testing.
KWAZAKELE TASK TEAM RECOVER STOLEN TRAILER WITH TYRES
On 7 December 2019, Kwazakele Visible policing Task Team members recovered tyres to the estimated value of R4 million which was allegedly taken in a business robbery in Sidwell on 6 December 2019.
It is alleged that on 06 December 2019 at about 21:30, about 7 males entered a business property in Eveready Road in Sidwell and pointed a firearm at the security guard on duty. They drove in with a truck. The security guard’s cellphone, gate remote, two computer monitors and a white trailer full of tyres was taken. A case of business robbery was opened with SAPS Algoa Park.
On 07 December 2019, Kwazakele Vispol Task Team members received information from the tracking company that they are picking up a faint signal of the stolen trailer around Burman Road, Deal Party area.
They acted on the information and found the signal to be between 4 companies. They checked all the companies except for one that was guarded by a security service. They were initially denied access into the property and while explaining their presence, they spotted the exact same trailer next to a heap of tyres inside the warehouse. They entered the premises and the trailer was positively identified as the one taken in the robbery. A total of 1168 tyres were seized. At this stage, no one was arrested however the investigation is continuing.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga is warning criminals that ‘we will be in your faces this festive season. Our presence will be felt as we stamp our authority. These successes is an affirmation of TURNING THE TIDE AGAINST CRIME and we will continue to do so during this festive season and beyond.’
Source: South African Police Service