Four robbers have been arrested after shootouts and high speed chases with police in separate incidents in Durban this week.
Early on Thursday, four men stormed a house between Henwood and Pineside roads in Pinetown and held up a family, robbing them of computer equipment and personal items.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said the SAPS K9 Unit came under fire following the 6am robbery, when they confronted the suspects on the M19 highway near Pinetown.
“Police retaliated and during the chase the suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed. The robbers fled into the bush with police dogs in pursuit. Two robbers had gunshots wounds and were soon arrested,” he said.
The men, aged 35 and 40, were charged with attempted murder, house robbery and possession of suspected stolen property. Two are still at large.
Police recovered stolen items and housebreaking equipment. The robbers’ vehicle had been reported stolen.
Naicker said both men had been taken to hospital and were under police guard. They would be charged and would appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court once they had been released from hospital.
On Wednesday morning a bullet grazed the face of a Bluff policeman in a shootout with armed robbers who had been fleeing after crashing their car into a house in KwaMakhutha.
Police from the Brighton Beach task team tried to stop five men in a silver Hyundai in the KwaMakhuta area.
“When the suspects spotted the police, they opened fire, then fled. Police chased the vehicle and returned fire. The suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a house. Three suspects fled the scene, while two were arrested,” Naicker said.
The car landed on its roof after crashing through the boundary wall. A 9mm pistol and five cellphones were found in the robbers’ possession.
Cases of attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm have been opened at KwaMakhutha police station.
“The robbers, aged 18 and 24, are expected to appear in the Mbumbululu Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.