Police dogs sink teeth into robbers
Following a police chase in Pinetown this morning, two alleged robbers were nabbed - one bitten by police dogs and another shot by the police.
TWO men were injured during a shoot-out with police in Pinetown at 6am this morning (Thursday, 23 July).
According to Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Cst Phindile Radebe, police responded to a house-breaking in progress between Pineside Road and Henwood Road. Four men allegedly stormed into the house and robbed the occupants of computer equipment and personal items before fleeing in their getaway vehicle.
“Police officers spotted four men, who then fled in a Toyota Tazz. They confronted the men on the M19 highway near Pinetown and the men opened fire on police. The officers retaliated and during the chase the men lost control of their vehicle and crashed.
Radebe said the four men deserted the car during the chase and fled on foot.
“They fled into the bushes and police ran after them with their police dogs and there was a shoot-out between the police and the alleged robbers.
Two of the men who had sustained gunshots wounds were apprehended by police. The stolen items and housebreaking equipment were recovered. The police seized the suspect’s vehicle after it was discovered that it had been stolen in Chatsworth.
“One of the men was shot and one was bitten by the dogs. The other two managed to flee and the police are looking for them,” said Radebe.
The two men are aged 40 and 35, and a case of attempted murder, house-breaking and possession of house-breaking implements was opened at Pinetown SAPS.
Both the arrested men were taken to hospital for medical attention and are under police guard. They will be charged and will appear in Pinetown Magistrates Court as soon as they are released from hospital. A manhunt is underway for the two outstanding suspects.
The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni applauded members of the K9 Unit for responding so swiftly to the incident which resulted in the arrest of the criminals.
“I am happy that police officers escaped unharmed and that we managed to apprehend the criminals. An investigation is underway to determine if they can be linked to other house robbery and housebreaking cases in the area. We are confident that the suspects who fled will be arrested soon,” she said.
