The Athlone police arrested three men in two separate drug busts last week.
In the first incident, on Tuesday April 4, a 39-year-old man was caught with 40 packets of tik, seven lollies and 17 packets of heroin at Vygieskraal informal settlement.
Then, on Sunday April 9, two men were nabbed in Kewtown for the possession of mandrax valued at R3 600.
The Athlone police were doing patrols around 11.20am in Eland Street and when they stopped, one of two men nearby started running.
The constables gave chase and caught him on the field in Lilac Street where they found a small bag containing tablets including 89 full mandrax tablets and two half mandrax tablets.
The men were due to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court today, Wednesday April 12.
On the same day, at around 9pm, the Athlone police attended to a shooting on the corner of 8th Avenue and Bokmakierie Street, Hazendal.
A 25-year-old man had been shot in the neck as he was returning from the mobile shop. He was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital for medical attention, and a 28-year-old man was arrested.
According to Sergeant Zita Norman, Athlone police station spokeswoman, the incident is believed to be related to ongoing gang rivalry in the area.
“SAPS urges the community to continue giving information to SAPS in order to bring the suspects to book,” she said.
On Wednesday April 5, a 73-year-old man was sitting in his vehicle on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Old Klipfontein Road, Belgravia Estate, when he was approached by unknown men who threatened him with a firearm and demanded his Huawei cellphone, valued at R2 000.
They took the cellphone and left the scene. No shots were fired and nobody was hurt.
Sergeant Norman said Athlone police were warning motorists to be aware of their surroundings.
“If you notice men approaching who seem a bit suspicious, rather start up your vehicle and drive off as a safety measure and return again if you need to fetch somebody,” she said.