An investigation into two northern KwaZulu-Natal men who were caught monitoring police radio frequencies has been launched, police said on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig said the pair were caught on Newcastle Road in Ladysmith on Monday night but had not yet been arrested.
She said the two were employed by breakdown company.
”Officers became suspicious of these men and were observing them on Monday when there was a report of an accident on the police radio. The two breakdown men immediately responded to the accident,” she said.
This, said Struwig, appeared strange because apparently no one knew about the accident at that point, besides the police.
Struwig said the officers stopped the van on Newcastle Road.
Police found a scanner in their possession — which can be used to listen to radio frequencies utilised by the South African Police Service.
”This basically means that whatever is reported on the police’s radio control, these men could pick up on immediately — and at the same time as [the] police.”
”This case has serious implications because if it fell into the hands of a criminal, they would be able to monitor police activity,” Struwig said.
”We have to look into what laws these men were contravening and make sure we have the correct charges and enough evidence before we make an arrest — otherwise they could end up walking free.”
Struwig said police were also investigating where the men had obtained the scanner.
”Police are further investigating whether the breakdown company was aware of what their employees were doing.” ‒ Sapa