Police spokesman Capt Mack Mngomezulu said the “necklace gangsters” targeted women near churches and in the busy streets around Actonville.
He said the police had received complaints, especially from older women, that on their way to and from the churches, they were often robbed of their necklaces by unknown males.
“They said that the incident happen quickly and that it was difficult to identify the robbers, because they were very fast,” said Mngomezulu.
The men would walk up to their victim; pull the chains from her neck and run away.
“A suspect was apprehended by community members in Mayet Drive, on April 3, immediately after stealing a necklace from a woman,” said Mngomezulu.
Two more suspects were arrested on April 8, following investigation.
They told the police that they sell the stolen jewellery in Johannesburg.
The are expected to appear soon in the Benoni Magistrates Court.
