Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe has lauded the cooperation between the police and private security companies after the police arrested three suspects linked to a house robbery that happened in Ermelo yesterday, 08 February 2022.
Shongwe praised the working together of the stakeholders which led to the apprehension of the suspects hours after the robbery. They were arrested after being cornered at Etwatwa in Gauteng Province.
According to the report, on the day in question, a 47-year-old man was preparing to take his child to school when three men pounced on them at their residence in Ermelo. They then held four people at gunpoint. The victims include the man and his child. The suspects thereafter forced the man back into the house where cash was demanded. Victims were tortured with a hot clothing iron while the house was been ransacked for valuables. The suspects reportedly took cash, jewellery, a laptop and cellphones. After all the ordeal, the suspects are said to have fled the scene with the loot.
Police at Ermelo and Acsu Security Company were notified about the incident and the team coordinated their resources where, through the assistance of SAPS members from Springs, they traced the suspects in Etwatwa. The suspects were found in possession of three firearms with ammunition, two of the recovered firearms belong to the police, while another firearm was robbed in Ivory Park.
They were also in possession of suspected stolen property, including cash, a laptop, jewellery and cellphones. Two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz AMG (not reported stolen) as well as an Opel Corsa LDV, were also confiscated and they will form part of the investigation as police believe that these cars may have been used in the commission of crime.
The suspects are facing several charges, including house robbery, possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property and more charges could be added. Police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the suspects committed elsewhere as the seized firearms will also undergo forensic tests in order to determine whether they were not used in the commission of crime elsewhere.
The MEC commended the collaborative efforts and the swiftness with which the police, under the leadership of Lt. General Semakaleng Manamela and security company responded to this robbery.
"With such levels of cooperation and rapid responding to crime scenes, more culprits will be brought to justice. Communities' faith in our security agencies will also be greatly enhanced. We want all business owners to forge closer relations with the police for the benefit of our communities and their own businesses," ephasized the MEC.
Shongwe also noted the arrests made two days ago of four suspects linked to the foiled robbery at Ilanga Mall in Mbombela.
According to reports, four suspects, aged between 30 and 39 were arrested just after reportedly committing a business robbery at the mall.
The MEC bemoaned that one of the suspects is a former police member. It is reported that the robbery took place on Monday morning after a group of armed suspects stormed into a shop where they held the employees hostage, before robbing them of cellphones, laptops as well as cash and computer boxes.
Meanwhile one of the workers at the shop was fortunately inside the bathroom during the robbery and this employee managed to call for help.
The security officers at the Mall responded swiftly and they caught up with the suspects moments later as they tried to flee from the scene using a white Toyota Corolla Quest without number plates nor licence disk.
When they were arrested, the suspects were found in possession of property suspected to have been stolen during the robbery, including two laptops, cash and computer monitors. Two firearms with ammunition were also seized from the suspects.
According to the MEC, the two cases are a clear demonstration that solving and preventing crime, requires all stakeholders to work together. He has furthermore implored on business owners to beef their security systems and also work closely with the police.
He has also reiterated his call to communities to report crime or any suspicious activities to the police.
Ends.
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
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