Toy guns 'as bad as real ones'
2008-06-30 20:04
Pretoria - Police expressed concern on Monday about violent crimes where toy guns and other imitations of weapons are used.
In a recent incident, an East Rand man who used a toy gun to rob an Ivory Park resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Director Phuti Setati said the use of an imitation or toy firearm was equivalent to an actual firearm and any person in possession of such a firearm was guilty of an offence.
The use of imitation devices in violent crimes showed a lack of remorse by criminals and the lengths to which they would go.
Any imitation firearm was prohibited by firearms control legislation and any person convicted could get up to 20 years behind bars.
Police would continue using all available legal means to ensure that the use of imitation devices in crimes was dealt with accordingly, said Setati.
- SAPA