Police intensify efforts as criminals target Post Offices
Members of the Crime Intelligence and the Tactical Response Team Unit successfully foiled an armed robbery at a Post Office used as a social grant payment point on 3 June.
Police are intensifying their efforts to combat armed robberies at Post Offices following a spate of incidents this week, where criminals targeted social grant payment points.
Members of the Crime Intelligence and the Tactical Response Team Unit successfully foiled an armed robbery at a Post Office used as a social grant payment point on 3 June.
Acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Jan Petrus Scheepers, commended members for their efforts.
On 3 June, members received information about a possible robbery at Atok in the Bogalatladi area and immediately conducted a snap operation with the help of a police helicopter.
#sapsLIM Crime Intelligence & Tactical Response Team foiled an Armed Robbery that was to take place yesterday @ Post Office which is used as Social grant pay point @ Atok in Apel policing area. Suspects, aged between 24 and 40 were arrested. TMhttps://t.co/E1lFf9dDIs pic.twitter.com/qIrAsyfcdv
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 4, 2020
According to a statement by police, a suspicious vehicle with three occupants was spotted along the D4180 between Atok and Ga-Selepe. Soon after being spotted, the driver suddenly got out and allegedly pointed a firearm at the members. The suspect was subsequently shot and the firearm was removed from him. He was then admitted to hospital under police guard.
Another vehicle was spotted with five occupants along the D4190 in the Atok area and the driver was ordered to stop. When police searched the vehicle, they found a firearm and all five suspects were apprehended.
In Seshego, police have launched a manhunt for unknown suspects who stormed into a Post Office in Seshego Zone 4 and robbed an undisclosed amount of cash on 4 June. It is alleged that four armed suspects entered the Post Office where social grants were being paid out, demanding money from the tellers. The suspects also managed to overpower a security official on duty, wrestling away his service pistol. The suspects fled the scene after taking the money.
Scheepers said, “It is now becoming clear that our Post Offices are beginning to be targets of armed robbers and, as the police, we will intensify our operations around all affected areas. I urge all relevant stakeholders to closely work with us to stop these criminals in their tracks.”
Anyone with information related to these matters is requested to contact Colonel Mohale at 071 497 2329 or call Crime Stop on 086 001 0111.
Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
