Johannesburg - Police on Sunday nabbed four men who are allegedly part of a bigger gang that has been terrorising communities in Joburg and Pretoria.
The men, identified by the police as Zimbabweans, were allegedly involved in violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder and house and business robberies.
One of the men arrested was allegedly involved in a robbery at a jewellery store at the Mall of the South last week.
According to Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, three of the suspects were arrested in Pretoria North after police received information about an imminent business robbery in the area.
“The suspects were spotted travelling in a Toyota Rav 4. When police approached them during a stop-and-search operation, their vehicle sped off. A chase ensued and the suspect’s vehicle collided with another vehicle from the opposite direction at the R101 in Pretoria North.
“One of the suspects was injured and taken to hospital under police guard,” he said.
Three of the men are linked to a string of crimes, including a murder and house robbery in Sinoville, Pretoria North, last week.
“A man was killed after being shot several times through a kitchen door. The men got into the house and then ransacked it. Several goods, including a plasma screen television and laptop, were stolen,” Dlamini said.
The fourth man was apprehended on Sunday in Rosettenville, Joburg, after a tip-off from the public.
“He was part of a gang that confronted the employees at the Mall of the South where jewellery worth thousands of rand was stolen.
“The suspect was the one who fired several shots randomly while they were fleeing from the scene,” Dlamini said.
On further investigation, police recovered four handguns, 10 plasma screen televisions, gate remotes, cellphones, a Rica machine, cellphone starter packs, balaclavas, a music system and a Toyota Rev 4, which was used as their getaway vehicle. Police were also questioning other suspects who they believed could be members of the gang.
The four men are expected to appear today in the Joburg Magistrate’s Court and Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court.
“We are appealing to all business people to report any suspicious people and vehicles and to upgrade security as the festive season approaches,” Dlamini said.
He warned that during the festive season, several crimes, especially robberies and theft, increased.
“Police are also embarking on festive season operations to make sure that the citizens feel safe,” Dlamini added.
The Star
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