POLOKWANE police have appealed for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects who robbed private security officers of their firearms during an armed robbery in Groblersdal.
Yesterday, Polokwane police appealed for community assistance with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in the November 17 robbery on Muller street in Groblersdal.
In one of two videos circulating on social media from footage taken from dash cams, a security officer is seen pulling up to the scene where another empty security van is seen in a stationary position at the side of the road.
The officer says, “I’m standing off,” as two men approach his patrol vehicle. In the distance someone is seen sitting near a fence. It is unknown whether the man sitting is the security officer from the empty patrol van.
In the second dash cam video the alleged robbers are heard talking to the officer.
At first the armed robbers jump into the second patrol vehicle, which has a canopy, while the officer stands behind the vehicle.
Seconds later they jump out and force the officer to jump into the back of the patrol van.
As the robbers begin driving off, the officer is seen placing his hand on the van’s bin door.
He watches the robbers carefully and while they are distracted he quickly opens the canopy door and bin lid and jumps out of the patrol vehicle while it is in motion.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said it was alleged that two private security officers were sitting inside company vehicles when they were accosted by three unknown suspects.
“They had firearms pointed at them and were robbed of two service firearms and in the process. Their company motor vehicle was hijacked.
“One of the security officers was later forced into the back of a security vehicle and the suspects drove away with him,” he said.
Mojapelo said the security officer managed to disembark while the vehicle was in motion and ran off to seek assistance.
The vehicle was later found abandoned some kilometres away from the crime scene.
Police appealed to the public to provide information on the whereabouts of the men whose faces are clearly identifiable in the clip and pictures.
“Anyone with information should urgently contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Jappie Skhosana on 072 598 6640, crime stop number 08600 10111, the nearest police station or MySAPSApp. Informants may opt to remain anonymous and any information received will be treated with confidentiality,”said Mojapelo. | THE MERCURY