Police had a narrow escape when they came under fire while chasing two suspects following a shooting in Bishop Lavis.
The two were among several suspects that police arrested during operations to clamp down on crime.
The officers were attending to a shooting at about 11pm on Friday when they spotted two suspects running away from the scene.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “As the suspects ran away towards the flats in Bishop Lavis they opened fire on the members. Bishop Lavis Crime Prevention Unit (members) caught up with them and arrested both suspects for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition respectively.
“A .38 Special revolver with five rounds and a 9mm Beretta with three 9mm rounds were confiscated and handed in as exhibits.”
He said the suspects, aged 34 and 38, were linked to a local gang grouping in Bishop Lavis and are to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Van Wyk said the police’s determination to put lawbreakers behind bars was yielding positive results in the province. Suspects were arrested for, among others, the possession of ammunition, drugs and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
In an incident on Saturday, Ravensmead Crime Prevention Unit members received information from residents about a suspected drug dealer at a property in Rose Street.
“The members followed up the information and found the suspect in possession of 74 mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime at the aforementioned address. A 42-year-old man was arrested for the possession of and dealing in mandrax.
“On the same day at about 9.30am, the members followed up on information received from the public regarding a suspect that had ammunition hidden in a chips packet.
“They immediately followed up the information and found the suspect at a premises in Aster Avenue, Uitsig. Upon searching the chips packet, members found six .38 Special rounds of ammunition. A 24-year-old man was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition,” Van Wyk said.
Earlier, Philippi East Crime Prevention members were patrolling Lower Cross Roads on Friday when they noticed a suspicious-looking man.
“They stopped and searched him and found two 9mm rounds, keys and various bank cards in his possession. A 30-year-old man was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition and possession of property suspected to be stolen,” said Van Wyk.
Cape Times