Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department vehicle.
PHOTO: Alfonso Nqunjana/News24
- Two people were arrested in Soweto for impersonating JMPD officers.
- They claimed that a JMPD officer loaned them his work car.
- A traffic police officer opened a criminal case for car theft.
A BMW equipped with blue lights driving recklessly led police to a suspected stolen car from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).
According to JMPD, the car – with two occupants – was traveling on Como Street in Soweto on Saturday when officers spotted it.
One of the passengers was wearing a JMPD director’s combat cap. During questioning, they were unable to produce assignment cards that would have identified them as JMPD officers.
The driver also did not have a driver’s license, and both passengers were allegedly drinking in the car.
READ | The rental company collects its vehicles from Joburg Metro
“There was a registration number [investigated]and it was not a police vehicle, so members of the K9 unit decided to investigate what was going on with the vehicle,” JMPD said in a statement.
The vehicle was registered to a rental company and later revealed to be a JMPD headquarters patrol car.
“The suspects were questioned about how they acquired the vehicle and they claimed it was given to them by a JMPD officer. However, a vehicle theft case was initiated and registered in Protea Glen by an alleged JMPD officer,” the statement said.
The occupants of the vehicle were arrested and charged with impersonating police officers and possession of an allegedly stolen vehicle. They will appear in court soon.
We live in a world where fact and fiction are blurred
In times of uncertainty, you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can access a world of in-depth analysis, investigative journalism, best opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. After that you will be billed 75 rand per month. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and if you cancel within 14 days, you will not be billed.
