The four suspects were caught red-handed by City Traffic Officers in Parow in the early hours of this morning – they’re among at least 213 suspects arrested by the City’s Traffic and Law Enforcement Departments in the past week.

At 04:10 this morning, Traffic Officers came across the four suspects, siphoning diesel from a truck parked in Parow – the driver was asleep inside the vehicle.

The suspects had siphoned off approximately 125 litres of diesel by the time officers came across the scene.

Officers recovered a large number of drums and pipes used to extract the diesel. They also impounded a Toyota Quantum, used by the suspects – the vehicle's number plates had been removed.

Four men, aged 26,28, 31 and 39 were arrested and taken to Parow SAPS.

'While the "fill up and dash" phenomenon is not new, this type of incident is something else, and was an incredibly opportunistic and dangerous thing to do. Even if the suspects had gotten away, travelling with large amounts of fuel in makeshift containers would have been very risky. While it's difficult to speculate on the motive, it's likely that the cost of fuel was a factor. Mercifully, the truck driver wasn't hurt. In light of this incident, we call on the trucking industry, but motorists in general, to please be alert at all times,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

In the past week, Cape Town Traffic Services arrested 110 motorists – 94 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 16 for reckless and negligent driving.

A total of 67 047 traffic violations were recorded. Officers also impounded 159 public transport vehicles and executed 1 637 warrants of arrest.

On Friday, 29 July 2022, Traffic Officers arrested a motorist in Athlone for 33 outstanding warrants to the value of R97 700.

During his court appearance, bail was set in the amount of R25 800, which he was unable to pay and was remanded at Pollsmoor Prison.

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Operators logged a total of 1 843 incidents between Friday 29 July and Sunday 31 July.

Among the calls for medical assistance, there were 159 assault cases, compared to 95 the previous weekend.

Motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents increased from 61 the previous weekend to 95 this past weekend.

'The statistics represent approximately a 50% increase in assault cases and motor vehicle accidents this past weekend, compared to the previous weekend. When we look at our weekly trends, it is clear that this spike in incidents occurs around the end of the month. These statistics are worrisome, because not only are lives lost or put in danger, but the cost of trauma to victims, their loved ones and society at large is immense,' added Alderman Smith.

Law Enforcement officers made 99 arrests and issued 3 374 notices for various by-law transgressions.

Source: City Of Cape Town