Five suspects arrested few hours after orchestrating a business robbery

OHRIGSTAD

Five robbers are behind bars; this is all thanks to the SAPS’s swift response. The men were arrested just a few hours after robbing a shop in Ohrigstad.  The multi-disciplinary approach by the Ohrigstad SAPS crime prevention, Tubatse SAPS Trio Crimes and Burgersfort K9 members dismantled a trio crime syndicates soon after they committed a business robbery at PEP Store Ohrigstad on Wednesday 15 January. The five suspects are aged between 20 and 30 years. During the arrest two firearms, cash money, cellphones, clothing from Pep Store and the motor vehicle which was used as a gateway were recovered at Praktiseer Shushumela of Mabitleng.

It is alleged that the four suspects, two armed with firearms entered the store just before closing time and pretend to be buying some clothing.

While the unsuspecting staff where trying to assist them, one of the suspect produced a firearm and ordered everyone in the store to remain calm and silent and they proceeded to the office of the manager where they instructed him to give them the cash and cellphones.

“When the suspects were busy with the robbery, one of the staff member who was outside the shop noticed what was happening and he immediately contacted the Ohrigstad police and reported a business robbery in progress.

“The crime prevention members responded quickly and on arrival at the store they found that the suspect were already gone,” said Sgt Kholofelo Phokane of SAPS Ohrigstad.

Phokane said the preliminary information revealed that the four suspects holding plastics were seen boarding a black VW polo vehicle and it took the R36-R555 road direction.

“The Information was then cascaded to the nearby police stations for the lookout of that motor vehicle and within few minutes the Tubatse trio crime members spotted the vehicle on the Alverton-Penge road and the chase ensued until the four suspects and the driver were corned at Shushumela of Mabitleng in Praktiseer.

The preliminary police investigation have revealed that these suspects are linked to a series of crimes ranging from fraud, armed robberies and unlawful possession of firearms and assault in the Burgersfort cluster.

The five suspects have already briefly appeared at Praktiseer Magistrate‘s Court on the 17 and 23 January 2020 respectively and their case has been postponed to the 04 February 2020 while they are reminded in custody.

The station commander of the SAPS in Ohrigstad Capt. Jeanette Nape has commended this team of operational members for a quick response in apprehending this dangerous and notorious criminals and ensuring that our streets are free from thugs and hooligans.

She said, “This and other arrest just goes to show that our men and women in blue will stop at nothing to ensure that hard-core criminals are kept behind bars.”