Four suspects are still at large after a police chase and shootout in Van Riebeeck Park on Friday afternoon.
After the culprits had abandoned their vehicle on Soutpansberg Drive, police discovered a firearm, ammunition, housebreaking equipment and stolen goods in the car.
Capt Lesibana Molokomme, spokesman for Norkem Park SAPS, said at about 2pm Consts Jaco Powell and Denovin Norman from Benoni Flying Squad, joined by Brandon Alexandra from Trace Trec, spotted a white Mecedes-Benz A 200 along Kwartel Street in Birch Acres.
“When the suspects noticed they were being followed, they sped off and turned into Soutpansberg Drive in Van Riebeeck Park where they lost control of the vehicle and stopped in an open veld.,” Molokomme said.
The four suspects came out of the car shooting at the officers. The officers returned fire but the four men managed to escape from the scene. No-one was injured in the shooting, Molokomme added.
As police searched the suspects’ car, they recovered a CZ 9mm with its serial number filed off, one magazine with 14 live rounds, house breaking implements including a pik and screw driver, as well as hand cuffs. A plasma TV and jewellery were also found in the vehicle.
In the meantime a huge police hunt for the fleeing men was launched, including using a police helicopter, without any success.
Molokomme said as officers took the stolen goods to Norkem Park Police Station, the owner was already there opening a case of housebreaking and theft. She identified the stolen goods as hers.
The men broke into her house on Easton Evenue in Norkem Park at around 1.45pm.
The recovered vehicle was reported hijacked in Vereeniging earlier this month.
Anyone with information about the suspects can contact Norkem Park SAPS on 011-391-1814/5 or 08600 10111 or sms 32211.
Russel Meiring, spokesman for ER24, released the following statement earlier:
“Nno-one sustained any injuries after an apparent hijacking which ended on Pretoria Road on Friday afternoon.
Russel Meiring of ER24 described how the ambulance service got “caught up” in the series of events.
“ER24 paramedics were called to a scene along Mooirivier Road for a two-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, paramedics found only one vehicle on the scene. Apparently, the second vehicle had fled the scene,” Meiring said.
“A few minutes later, paramedics were called to Elgin Road in Birchleigh for another collision. On this scene, paramedics again found only one vehicle. The second vehicle, apparently the same from the first collision, had again fled the scene. Again, there were no injuries reported,” Meiring said.
“While on route to base, ER24 paramedics came across a third collision. A light motor vehicle, allegedly chased by local authorities, had lost control an Paramedics assessed the scene and found that no-one sustained any injuries,” Meiring added.
From social media posts during Friday afternoon, A massive manhunt for four hijackers had been launched in Van Riebeeck Park and Birchleigh on Friday afternoon.
The search followed a hijacking on Elgin Road where a white Mercedes-Benz was apparently robbed at gun point at a traffic light.
The abandoned vehicle was recovered in a veld along Soutpansberg Drive in Van Riebeeck Park.
According to reports on social media the four armed men abandoned the vehicle and fled of foot. A police helicopter assisted in the search.
Reports indicated police were searching the open veld between Soutpansberg and Pretoria roads hoping to find the fleeing culprits. The search was also extended to the area around Beukes Road.
According to a post on social media police were going from house to house in the Van Riebeeck Park area, looking for the suspects. Scared residents decided to stay indoors as the suspects were reportedly armed.
Reports of one of the suspects being apprehended cold not be confirmed.
