this from the cyclelab newsletter

[jeremyd]

SUCCESSFUL SPRUIT

PATROL FOR RANDBURG POLICE UNIT

The Randburg Police

Mountain Bike Patrol Unit completed two successful patrols of sections of the

Braamfontein Spruit in the past week, in an effort to improve safety for users

of the popular urban riverside trail in Johannesburg?s northern

suburbs.

Following a spate of recent incidents where mountain bikers have

been attacked and robbed of their bicycles and other equipment while using ?The

Spruit?, as the trail is commonly known, the Randburg Police have mobilised

their mountain bike unit, under the command of Inspectors Hein Van Heerden and

James Swann.

On Wednesday 22 October they did an exploratory afternoon patrol

on The Spruit between Peter Place and the N1. Numerous individuals were

questioned and searched and no arrests were made.

Then on Saturday 25 October

a dawn patrol of the land adjacent to Main Road, Sloan Street and the N1,

followed by a patrol on The Spruit from 12th Avenue to Jan Smuts Avenue resulted

in 13 arrests.

?Most of the arrests were illegal immigrants,? explained

Inspector van Heerden. ?One guy we arrested was a suspect in an attempted armed

robbery of a mountain biker we had encountered earlier who described his

assailants to us. We need this mountain biker to contact us to give an official

statement so that we can open a case.?

According to Inspector van Heerden,

the patrols were a success and only the beginning of a sustained effort by the

unit, which is a pilot project and a result of collaboration between local

corporates, residents and the SAPS.

?Yes, a good result and a good start,?

said Inspector van Heerden. ?It is very important for mountain bikers, or any

users of the Braamfontein Spruit, who are assaulted or robbed to make a

statement at either the Randburg Police Station or the Sandton Police Station.

Even if it is only an attempted assault or robbery. This helps us build up a

database from which to make more specific links and successful arrests.?

To

report any incidents or to offer any useful information that could lead to

improved safety on the Braamfontein Spruit and other public areas, contact

Inspectors van Heerden or Swann on 011 4499000 or email info@randburgpolice.co.za

[jeremyd]

I know some have read about it in the paper, but was hubber involved in a mugging? They are tryting to find the mtber to come and identfy the ugly dude.

[ViperSquad]

Well done to the Randburg SAPS. I do this trail often and although I have had no problems. It's good to know they are out there

[Tumbleweed]

I know some have read about it in the paper' date=' but was hubber involved in a mugging? They are tryting to find the mtber to come and identfy the ugly dude.

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

check one of the other spruit threads for this.