KUTLWANO OLIFANT and GAAHELE MOKGORO
IT IS A grey and red double-storey house with big aluminium windows, silver pillars, electric fencing, oak garage door and burglar gate in front of the main entrance with an ADT security company sign.
This is by far the most stylish house in Komati Street in Lenasia Extension 10, where a tracker plate with an aerial, two bulletproof police vests, a blue light, a police uniform, an AK-47 with 12 rounds, two 9mm pistols, two bank cards, six cellphones and two laptops were found early yesterday morning.
Three suspects, aged between 31 and 41, were arrested by Moroka cluster crime intelligence members.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou said it was an intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of the suspects, after police received information that led them to the house.
With the assistance of K-9 Soweto and members of the Tactical Response Team, the crime intelligence members pounced on the premises at about 12.30am.
Ndou said further enquiries revealed that the two 9mm pistols were stolen in Malvern, Joburg, in 2008 and Lyttelton, Tshwane, in 2010.
The three suspects will be charged with possession of a police uniform, possession of suspected stolen property, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“The Gauteng Organised Crime Unit is investigating whether any of the weapons seized were linked to criminal activities where criminals posed as police officers,” said Ndou.
The suspects were due to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court today.
Residents in Komati Street said they were surprised by the sting operation.
“I was not there when they were arrested, but heard that police had arrested my neighbour. I’m shocked, as I thought he was well off,” said a neighbour, who asked not to be named.