WESTERN CAPE - The Safer Festive Season operations under the theme “More boots on the ground towards enhanced police visibility” yielded excellent success when police swiftly responded to a robbery in progress at a grocery store in George which resulted in the arrest of four suspects.
Yesterday 07 January 2023, at about 16:10 various police units deployed in George were dispatched to a scene at Market Street, George. On arrival they obtained descriptions of those involved who already fled the scene. A lookout was send out and one of the men was later spotted in the vicinity of the taxi rank. While police approached, he dropped an item. The vigilant members proceeded with a search of the man and discovered that the dropped item was an imitation firearm. Further investigation took the forces to three other suspects and a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi, with a Cape Town registration number plate, parked at the rank. They proceeded with a search of the vehicle and found three more imitation firearms concealed inside. All three suspects were also arrested.
It is alleged that at least four men armed with firearms entered the shop. They threatened staff and demanded a key to the safe. The suspects later fled the scene without accessing the safe.
The foursome aged between 23 and 38 remain in police custody. They are facing charge of attempted business robbery. All are expected to make their first court appearance on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 on the mentioned charge.
The possibility that the suspects could be linked to other robberies perpetrated in the region is being investigated.
In an unrelated incident, George Detectives mobilised resources in the arrest of three suspects involved in a business robbery at a premises at Meade Street, George on 04 January 2022.
Investigation indicates, that a man entered the shop and robbed an undisclosed amount of cash before he fled the scene on foot. He later boarded a Volkswagen Golf which was used as a getaway vehicle. The investigation took police to a house at Thembalethu where the vehicle was tracked down the following day. Three suspects were later arrested, which includes the driver of the vehicle as well as an employee of the business. Some of the cash was also recovered during the arrest.
The trio, two men and one woman, aged between 24 and 33, remain in police custody. The suspects are expected to make their first court appearance on Monday, 09 January 2022 on a charge of business robbery. More charges could be added as the investigation unfolds.
Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, commended the forces for their swift response in apprehending the suspects. He said, “These arrests and confiscations would go a long way to safeguard communities. The swift response of our forces is also an indication that the strategic deployment of more boots on the ground is bearing fruit.” Lt Gen Patekile concluded.
Source: South African Police Service