Six people suspected to have been involved in a spate of hijackings, robberies and home invasions in Westville and surrounding areas have been arrested.
Metro police’s acting superintendent Musa Mbonambi, on Tuesday said the arrests were a culmination of a three-month investigation following a surge of robberies, home invasions and hijackings in Westville and Cowie’s Hill.
“We received information that the suspects were together,” said Mbonambi.
Members of Metro’s Multi Operational Response Team (Moth) and Pinetown Crime Intelligence, Durban Public Order and KwaDabeka police pounced on five men in the outbuilding of a KwaDabeka home on Sunday morning.
A woman, who was also found in possession of firearms and ammunition, was arrested later on Sunday.
They are believed to be linked to more than 20 cases that left residents living in fear.
Because of the incidents, deputy mayor Fawzia Peer called a meeting with residents and a crime pre- vention plan was adopted, which included metro police horse patrols and the installation of CCTV cameras.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Natasha Kara said the six appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
However they have only been charged with the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition at this stage.
Police spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala said they would be profiled to determine if they could be linked to other cases. She said seven unlicensed firearms and 152 rounds of live ammunition were recovered.
Westville Community Police Forum spokesman Caz Weeks praised the officers.
“We hope the arrests will lead to convictions. If these are the right people, this gang ran riot in Westville and Cowie’s Hill.”
They are expected to apply for bail on April 24.