Johannesburg motorists and communities have been urged to bear with roadblocks in the cause of fighting crime, metro police said on Wednesday.

"We appeal to motorists and our vast communities to bear with but also support us as we intensify our crime-fighting activities through traffic law enforcement," Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

He said the Johannesburg metro police did more than just enforce traffic regulations. It also fought crime.

"Our interventions on the road are thus designed to respond to these two imperatives."

Through its enforcement activities on the roads, the metro police enhanced police visibility, which was a proven crime-prevention method.

Their presence also contributed to the modification of driver behaviour, preventing accidents and fatalities on the roads, he said.

"Recent statistics reveal that thousands of vehicles are stolen in our city often through gruesome hijackings involving illegal firearms."

Roadblock stop and searches had assisted in determining driver and vehicle legality and fitness, as well as discovering stolen vehicles, arresting wanted criminals and confiscating illegal firearms, Minnaar said.