Members of a provincial task team and ZSS Security were applauded for their work in successfully arresting six suspects following a house robbery in Bedfordview, and a further two suspects in a safe house in Kelvin. It is alleged that they are involved in a gang targeting upmarket suburbs including Sandton.
Provincial police spokesperson for the Gauteng province, Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said, “The suspects were arrested after they [allegedly] attacked two women, a mother and her daughter at Kiloran Place. Police recovered stolen goods and a firearm following a high-speed chase along Van Buuren Road after 10am on 22 November.”
Dlamini said police confronted the suspects as they were driving along Van Buuren Road and they reacted by driving away at a high speed. A chase ensued until the driver lost control of the vehicle. The suspects were rounded up and arrested, and an injured suspect is under police guard in hospital.
He added that one of the victims was assaulted while the suspects were removing household goods including jewellery, a TV and other electrical goods.
Police were led to a safe house suspected to be used as a hiding place in Kelvin. “Police seized five handguns, an R5 rifle, three stolen vehicles and jewellery. The suspects are thought to be part of a gang that could be linked to [other] house robberies, especially in the upmarket suburbs. Police will work around the clock to make sure that these gang members are exposed regarding all crimes they had committed.”
Head of the tactical and reaction unit at ZSS Security, David de Villiers said the security company had been keeping a close eye on these suspects in Kelvin for some time before they were caught. “It’s a major syndicate that has been terrorising our communities for some time now. There is no better feeling than assisting police in this incident.
“It was certainly no one-man operation. We have been working for months to catch these guys.”
De Villiers confirmed that the shootout occurred at a nearby petrol station, where the vehicle was recovered. He added that the suspects were still wearing gloves when they were arrested and that one got away.
De Villiers added that over 25 cases were registered against the caddy that the suspects were arrested in.
Dlamini said that the members of the task team that affected the arrest were part of a deployment for the holiday operations to deal with criminal elements. “Since the launch of the festive season operations earlier this month, police have recovered more than 50 firearms including handguns and rifles. Since [20 November], 13 firearms have been recovered and 14 suspects arrested for crimes including hijacking, house robbery, possession of suspected property and unlicensed firearms.”
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