Two men suspected of being behind a spate of robberies in Ivory Park and possibly other areas were arrested in Ivory Park, Extension 2 last Thursday for possession of two unlicensed firearms and 161 rounds of live ammunition.
After the arrest, the police accompanied the suspects to their places of residence, where they found two toy firearms which, to untrained eyes, look like real firearms, as well as identity documents, a grinder, a bolt cutter, eight cellular phones and two tablets and banking cards.
Ivory Park SAPS communication officer Captain Bernard Matimulane said the police, working together with community patrollers, acted on a tip-off from a source and surprised the two men while on the road.
“The third suspect fled the scene while the two, aged 22 and 38, were arrested,” added Capt. Matimulane.
Major General Vincent Leshabane, the cluster commander of the Ekurhuleni North Cluster, welcomed the arrests.
“It proves our often-repeated emphasis that, wherever the community and the police work together, no criminal is out of reach,” Major General Leshabane said.
The two will be charged with possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and dangerous weapons.
“Furthermore, investigations into how other people’s identity documents ended up in their possession have already started and the police are positive they will be able to solve other trio-related cases as a result of these impending investigations.”
The two suspects are expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court soon, while the search for the third man is underway.
