POLICE in Cape Town’s Eastern and Western metropoles on Friday launched a special crime prevention operation focusing on armed robberies which usually increase towards the end of the month. The operation will last throughout the weekend. The assistant commissioner for the Eastern metropole Niel van Heerden said police will be deployed in target areas in and around banks, shopping centres and industrial areas while high visibility will be maintained by police on foot, in vehicles and helicopter patrols. They will be assisted by members of the SA National Defence Force. Van Heerden said the police on their own can not effectively combat crime. The operation will be led by Superintendent Vivian Sciocatti, acting head of crime prevention for the Eastern metropole. Part of the exercise will entail roadblocks on a continuous basis to deter would-be criminals.