King William’s Town - Eastern Cape police said on Monday they arrested three suspects minutes after two separate robberies in Mdantsane and Port Elizabeth.
In the first incident, two robbers held up the driver of a tobacco van in NU-15 in Nompumelelo, Mdantsane, on Monday and fled with 13 boxes of tobacco, worth an estimated R220 000.
“They were seen by alert members doing patrol and a chase ensued. The suspects were stopped and arrested whilst trying to unload their loot at a shack in Nompumelelo,” said police spokeswoman Marinda Mills.
Police recovered the stolen tobacco.
The two suspects, aged 25 and 40, will appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s court soon.
In another incident on Monday, police arrested one suspect and are still looking for three others after an armed robbey at a store in Siyabuya Complex in Dwesi, Port Elizabeth.
Two armed men accosted security guards collecting cash at the store.
One of the suspects fired a short at one of the guards, who returned fire.
A female customer at the store was shot during the shoot-out, and was reported to be in a critical condition in hospital.
The suspects managed to overpower the guard and fled with the cash boxes.
The suspects fled with two other accomplices waiting nearby in a vehicle.
“Police members on patrol came upon the scene and were alerted as to what had transpired and immediately gave chase after the get-away vehicle,” Mills said.
“The get-away vehicle was found abandoned at Besman Crescent, KwaMagxaki. A quick search of the area led to the arrest of a 37-year-old suspect hiding in the neighbourhood. He had a bullet wound to his upper body.”
The suspect was hospitalised. A search was launched for his accomplices.
“We will not let up and continue to hunt for the suspects whilst we ask for any person with information to come forward and assist police in putting these criminals behind bars,” said Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Celiwe Binta.
ANA