Balaclava suspect nabbed
Jeppe SAPS made a major breakthrough on May 3 by arresting a suspect dubbed the balaclava man.
Warrant Officer Richard Munyai, the Jeppe SAPS communications officer, said a man was terrorising Jeppestown, Troyeville and Belgravia residents.
“The man (25) was wanted by police for about two months. He was breaking into properties in the early hours of the mornings. He and his friends would break into the houses at about 3am while the occupants were sleeping. They would instruct their victims to lie down and ransack the house. They would take cellular phones, watches, wallets, money, bank and shopping cards,” said W/O Munyai.
He said during their robbery sprees they would also rape female victims and in one of the properties shot and killed a man as well.
“Cases were reported at the police station and investigations started. Investigating officers gathered the information and linked the cases together. On May 2 they received information about the whereabouts of one of the men. They raided the area and arrested him in the early hours of the following morning,” said W/O Munyai.
The man was in possession of watches, wallets and a number of other items which included a firearm.
He appeared in the Westgate Magistrate’s Court on May 5 on charges of house robbery, rape, murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The case was moved to the Jeppe Magistrate’s Court. The man was due to appear yesterday, May 12. At the time of going to print, the outcome of his appearance was not known.
“Most of the victims have already identified their goods. We are waiting for others to come forward and identify the remaining goods,” said W/O Munyai.
Anyone who was a victim of the balaclava man can visit the Jeppe SAPS and request to see the investigation officer, Constable Ndlovu.
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