Law Enforcement officers ran three diewe off the road and arrested them on Friday after they robbed a Kraaifontein liquor store, while a fourth suspect managed to get away.
The four men attempted to flee in their silver Toyota Tazz during the afternoon peak traffic, but they could not outrun the law and crashed into three cars.
The dramatic chase saw dop flying out of the car, littering the road on the corner of Protea Road and Brackenfell Boulevard.
Although SAPS officers were at the scene, the arrests were made by Law Enforcement officials, who say they were alerted to the robbery by a concerned citizen.
Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said: “The officers were on patrol in Brackenfell when they were stopped by a member of the public who was bravely following the vehicle of the suspects and she alerted the officers of what happened.
“The officers set after them and the suspects collided with three vehicles.
“They exited their damaged vehicle and fled on foot but the officers caught three of the four suspects. One of them managed to evade capture.
“Several cases were opened against the suspects including robbery, attempted murder and reckless negligent driving.”
Dyason added that shots were fired but could not confirm if they were fired by the suspects or officers.
One of the skelms was shot in the shoulder, according to a source who was on the scene.
Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut confirmed: “On Friday afternoon at around 4.40pm, three suspects aged 23, 34 and 48 were arrested by members of Law Enforcement in Brackenfell after they perpetrated an armed robbery at a Kraaifontein liquor store. Cash, liquor and a gas pistol were confiscated.”
In their attempt to escape, the diewe caused an accident and attempted to run away, but three of them were apprehended on Cecil Morgan Road just over 3km away.
Two bakkies and a car were damaged in the incident.
According to a source on the scene, the injured skelm tried to run off with a brown bag filled with stolen kroon but dropped it in the road.
“Bottles of expensive dop fell out of the car when they jumped from it and ran away without their loot.
“Luckily no one was seriously injured in the crashes,” says the source.
The amount of cash and alcohol stolen could not be confirmed.