Suspect shot as bakkie is cornered by police

Published Dec 21, 2012

Share

Johannesburg - The police launched a manhunt for four alleged armed robbers involved in separate incidents in Norwood and Sandhurst on Thursday.

Two of their accomplices were shot by police. One died at the scene and the other is under police guard after being shot in the legs.

About 5am on Thursday, police officers tried to pull over a white bakkie with three men on board on Louis Botha Avenue, but it sped off.

The bakkie jumped several red traffic lights while the police gave chase, said SAPS spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.

The bakkie then turned off Louis Botha Avenue, and at the corner of Ivy Road and Sidonia Avenue in Norwood, one of the suspects jumped out and fired at the police officers.

“Police shot back and the suspect, in his early 30s, was shot and wounded in both legs,” said Dlamini.

Two guns were recovered from the man.

The two other suspects were able to flee, and police were still searching for them.

Police believed that the men had been involved in a robbery in the area, but Dlamini said investigations were still under way.

In the second incident, three men tried to rob a house in Sandhurst and assaulted a gardener.

They were armed with handguns and apparently beat the gardener with the weapons, but a neighbour saw the incident and pressed a panic button.

The suspects tried to flee when security guards arrived. One was shot and killed by a guard while the other two escaped on foot.

“It is alleged that only the house keys were taken during the robbery,” said Dlamini.

“Police are currently busy with major festive season operations and will respond quicker to any complaint.

“Members of the public are requested to report any suspicious vehicles and people.”

[email protected]

The Star

Related Topics: