Potchefstroom - Police have arrested three men in connection with a recent string of business robberies, including the use of explosives, in Potchefstroom, North West police said on Sunday.
Efforts to reduce the levels of trio crimes - house and business robberies and car hijackings - paid off when North West police organised crime detectives in co-operation with the Klerksdorp trio task team and tactical response team (TRT) held a successful operation that led to the arrest of three suspects this week, Lt-Col Adéle Myburgh said.
The suspects, aged between 25 and 50, were arrested in Vosloorus and Thokoza in Gauteng, and Klerksdorp in the North West, she said.
"They were nabbed for various recent business robberies committed in Potchefstroom whereby explosives were used to gain access to safes and blow them [open]. The last incident was committed two weeks ago, also in Potchefstroom. Following an intensive investigation the suspects are linked with six other cases."
During the investigation three vehicles to the value of R1.5 million, angle grinders, a substantial amount of cash, sledge hammers, and radio equipment allegedly used during the commission of the crimes were seized. The suspects would appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Myburgh said.
North West police commissioner Lt-Gen Baile Motswenyane lauded the team for a thorough and responsive investigation that led to the success. She said police would work around the clock to ensure that trio crimes suspects such as these were brought to book and faced the full might of the law.