PARKTOWN – The concerted efforts of police in Gauteng geared at curbing the prevalence of serious and violent crimes in the province on Friday 03 December 2021 led to the arrest of seven suspects, and the recovery of a rifle, pistol, ammunition and three stolen vehicles in Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Weapons that include a rifle, pistol and ammunition were found in a Toyota Conquest during the arrest of five suspects in Dube, of which two are females. Members received information about a Toyota Conquest driving around the area.
Members from Dube police station conducted a Crime Prevention patrol when they noticed a suspicious white Toyota Conquest with five occupants. Members stopped the vehicle, and upon their search two unlicensed firearms were found and suspects were placed under arrest.
In another incident, members of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit and Johannesburg K9 Unit followed up on information about vehicles that were stolen and taken to Limpopo. While patroling on Pretoria Street and Mulberry Street in Primrose the SAPS members detected a Mercedes-Benz and a Ford Ranger. The suspects tried to stop the vehicles then one suspect jumped out of the vehicle and tried to hijack the another car. Police fired a shot towards the suspect to subdue him. He has been taken to hospital under police guard. The other suspect who was driving the Mercedes Benz was arrested.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the Mercedes Benz was hijacked in Lyttelton in November 2021 and the Ford Ranger tested positive with a Delmas case.
The arrested suspects will be charged with possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and stolen vehicles. They will further be profiled to determine if they may be linked to other crimes committed especially hijacking related crimes.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela is pleased with the commitment of the all the members involved as these weapons might have been used in robbing and killing of innocent residents of Gauteng.
Source: South African Police Service