Shootout, high speed chase end in three arrests
The men were cornered by police, EMPD and Benoni CPF members in Glen Marais were one was shot and the other broke a leg trying to escape
One suspect was shot in the back while his accomplice broke his leg following a shootout in Appelblaar Avenue, Glen Marais earlier on Friday.
Both were taken to hospital under police guard.
The third suspect was unharmed and was taken into custody after the three were cornered by the metro police, Gauteng Flying Squad and Benoni CPF members on the corner of Appelblaar and Frangipani avenues.
The details of car the three, aged 24, 25 and 26, were travelling in, a silver Golf GTI, had been circulated by Benoni CPF as wanted in connection with a number of housebreakings in the Benoni and Bonaero Park areas. The men are all from Mamelodi near Tshwane.
“The vehicle was spotted by a Benoni CPF member on Great North Road earlier in the day and he alerted the metro police and Gauteng Flying Squad. The vehicle was followed into Glen Marais. One suspect fired a shot at the police when the vehicles reached Driedoring Avenue and police returned fire. A shootout ensued during the chase.
“The three stopped the vehicle at the corner of Appelblaar and Frangipani avenues and attempted to flee on foot, which was when they were apprehended,” said Capt Jethro Mtshali, Kempton Park SAPS spokesman.
One suspect got out of the vehicle and police noticed he had been wounded, while the other broke his leg while trying to escape.
“The men’s vehicle has been linked to several housebreakings in Benoni and Bonaero Park with the most recent being a housebreaking and rape in Bonaero Park on Thursday, as well as two housebreakings in Glen Marais earlier this morning,” said Mtshali.
A firearm was recovered when the police combed the area.
“Police are still investigating whether the men are linked to the spate of recent housebreakings in Benoni and Bonaero Park. We also ask for assistance from the residents in the area to look out for housebreaking instruments which police believe may been thrown into some yards in the area where the shoot out took place and report it to the police immediately,” said Mtshali.
