A post shared on community policing Facebook pages in South Africa warns that criminals drive fake police vehicles that can be identified by the marking “dog unit”.
It says the South African Police Service (SAPS) doesn’t have a dog unit.
“That terms a relic, they called K9 units, if u are ever stopped or spot a SAPS car like the one below with ‘Dog Unit’ written at the rear DONT STOP, the car is fake and its wanted for robbery and highjackings.”
The post includes a photo of a police car marked “dog unit”.
But police spokesperson Col Brenda Muridili told Africa Check the SAPS had not had a case of robbery or hijacking registered in which the criminals drove a car marked “dog unit”.
Muridili said old K9 vehicles were indeed marked “dog unit”, but the newer cars were now marked “K9 unit”.
The photo in the Facebook post “could be a picture of our old vehicle”, she said.
“The photo doesn't indicate other call signs and information, therefore it is difficult to check the vehicle's originality. It could be an authentic old picture circulating with fake information.” – Africa Check (11/06/2019)
It says the South African Police Service (SAPS) doesn’t have a dog unit.
“That terms a relic, they called K9 units, if u are ever stopped or spot a SAPS car like the one below with ‘Dog Unit’ written at the rear DONT STOP, the car is fake and its wanted for robbery and highjackings.”
The post includes a photo of a police car marked “dog unit”.
‘Could be fake information’
But police spokesperson Col Brenda Muridili told Africa Check the SAPS had not had a case of robbery or hijacking registered in which the criminals drove a car marked “dog unit”.
Muridili said old K9 vehicles were indeed marked “dog unit”, but the newer cars were now marked “K9 unit”.
The photo in the Facebook post “could be a picture of our old vehicle”, she said.
“The photo doesn't indicate other call signs and information, therefore it is difficult to check the vehicle's originality. It could be an authentic old picture circulating with fake information.” – Africa Check (11/06/2019)
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