A MAN was arrested this week when he volunteered at the Paarl Police station to be a car watch guard.
Lungile Faye entered the police station last week and said that he would like to assist the police as a car guard in the vicinity of Paarl South.
Faye said that he lived in Mbekweni and when asked to fetch some proof of identification and address, a wide- awake clerk did a data check on Faye at the crime information office.
Here it was discovered that Faye was wanted at three different police stations in the Cape Town area for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of dagga and indecent assault.
On his return, he was instantly arrested and search- ed.
To add insult to injury, 32 grams of dagga was found in his possession.
The question often arises in Paarl about who are bona fide car guards , and who are not.
A little more than two years ago, the then acting police chief of Paarl, Snr/Supt Nelson Govender, launched the CBD Crime Watch.
This consisted of car guards who were screened and then officially appointed by the police as Crime Watch members.
They were issued with official jackets and identification tags and were meant to be the ears and eyes of the police in Central Paarl.
Although the amount of official Crime Watch members has since dwindled, there is however a successful group of them operating in the CBD, helping to combat crime.
But illegal car guards are still operating under the banner of the crime watch.
These ‘guards’ have illegally obtained the official car guard jackets, as well as fake ones. Members of the public often complain that they are drunk and damage vehicles.
The police warn the public against these imposters.
Anybody who have complaints about car guards, can contact the communication officer on 082-850-9614.
