- A bogus Free State ex-cop has been arrested for pretending to be a Brigadier at the Hawks.
- It is alleged that Andre Theron would demand to search people’s homes while pretending to be a police officer.
- He faces charges of fraud and impersonating a police officer.
A former Free State police official was arrested for searching premises unlawfully under the pretence of being a Brigadier at the Hawks.
Andre Theron, 52, was arrested on Tuesday by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team together with the K9 Unit in Bloemfontein.
The arrest followed a complaint received on 11 May of a man who was pretending to be a Brigadier at the Hawks demanding to search houses in Pellissier, Bloemfontein in Free State.
It was alleged that Theron pretended he was in a K9 Unit with his own dog, claiming he intended to search the premises of one of the people who tipped off police, said Free State Hawks spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo.
“He told the owner that the search is in relation to drug information.
“The owner of the premises, during the search, demanded the search warrant from the bogus police officer which he failed to produce,” said Singo.
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According to Singo, the officer tried to search houses in the same area, but homeowners refused to let him in because he could not produce a search warrant.
“The reason for this behaviour might have been that he wanted to rob the victims. Sometimes people enter your house and look around so they can come back some other time to rob you.”
Singo said during the arrest, police seized 10 firearms, including an old police uniform.
The firearms had been sent to forensic analysis to check if they were licensed and if they were used to commit any other crime
Singo added:
Theron appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of fraud and for impersonation of a police official.
His case was postponed for a formal bail application.
Theron would remain in custody until his next court appearance on 30 May.
Singo said the Hawks had asked Free State residents to come forward with information that could assist with the ongoing investigation of people impersonating police officers.
“[T]his, including those who might have been robbed by the suspect or their premises were searched unlawfully by the bogus police officer to contact investigating officer Captain Chop Putter on 082 784 4188,” said Singo.
