Kudos to the police

POLICE are to be commended for their speedy response and teamwork in arresting the suspects of a farm robbery near Alexandria last week.

Within only an hour after an alert was issued to neighbouring police stations, police on patrol noticed a group of men pushing a car that had run out of petrol on the road to Paterson. Acting on a hunch, they stopped and searched the men and their vehicle and found the wallet of the farmer who had been robbed as well as several stolen cell phones.

It was risky work for the police as they also knew several firearms had been stolen – three rifles and a handgun – which easily could have been turned on them.

But it seems the robbers had already done some stashing of the stolen goods, and the rifles were recovered in a follow-up investigation, as well as other items that were stolen.

The handgun had apparently already changed hands and was recovered only later, in another area.

With so many farm robberies being violent and even resulting in murder, we can be thankful the victims were spared injury or worse in this incident.

The robbers were already armed when they confronted the famer's wife and staff at their smallholding 9km outside of Alexandria, tied them up and waited for the farmer to return from his farm stall.

Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender admitted they did not know what happened to the original firearm used to hold the victims at gunpoint before they opened the farmer's safe and took his weapons.

It is frightening to think how many firearms are in the hands of criminals who will not hesitate to use them. We know from national news reports that the police themselves cannot account for thousands of firearms that have disappeared from police custody.

But we are grateful when our police men and women put their lives on the line to protect us and defend our property and we commend them for speedy responses and efficient police work.

Every armed and dangerous criminal caught by the police and kept off the streets is a victory for law and order.

Now we need efficient follow-up work by detectives to assure dockets are complete and ready for cases to be prosecuted.

We need a cohesive justice system where appropriate sentences are handed down and a functional correctional services system which ensures dangerous and violent criminals remain locked up.

- Jon Houzet