Cape Town police say their anti-crime operations will have to be carried out more discreetly and swiftly in future, so they are able to gain an element of surprise over criminals.

Metro and SAPS officials conducted a joint blitz in Atlantis on Friday.

It formed part of ’operation razor’, their pre-festive season crime blitz.

As a convoy of police vehicles filed through the streets of Atlantis, residents could be seen pointing while chattering on their cell phones.

Officers say some were tipping off relatives about the operation, potentially taking away the element of surprise.

In spite of this, there was no hiding from the law.

Cupboards were rummaged through and residents were body-searched.

A suspicious-looking white substance in a bag was intently studied at one home but it turned out to be salt.

While no narcotics were found on the premises, a well-crafted hole in a wall was a tell-tale sign of drug-dealing activities.