A member of an alleged theft syndicate was killed and another wounded in a high-speed chase and shoot-out on the R21 near Olifantsfontein on Wednesday morning last week.
The National Commissioner of Police, Genl Khehla John Sitole, has welcomed the arrest of four suspects, including the wounded one, and praised police for their efforts in breaking the back of what appears to be a theft syndicate.
According to police spokesperson Brig Vishnu Naidoo, the incident happened at around 4am. Members from various police units and private security, acting on intelligence, were looking out for suspects that were going to travel on the R21 highway.
According to intelligence, these suspects were allegedly part of a syndicate involved in burglaries, theft of motorbikes, boats, trailers and other high-value items in Gauteng and neighbouring provinces.
Naidoo said the team spotted a bakkie towing a trailer carrying a suspected stolen motorbike, followed by an escort vehicle with foreign registration plates as identified in the intelligence.
“In trying to stop the vehicles, a high-speed chase ensued. In the process, the driver of the bakkie tried to push the police vehicles off the road by swerving into them. A shoot-out followed, forcing the suspects’ Toyota Hilux as well as the escort vehicle to come to a halt.”
One suspect was killed and four suspects were subsequently arrested.
Police also recovered two firearms from the suspects and seized the bakkie as well as the escort vehicle at the scene.
“This multi-disciplinary integrated approach has once again proven to be one of the most effective approaches in dealing with crime in this country”, said Sitole.
“We continue to implore on anyone who may have information on the crime to contact the police via the MySAPSApp or Crime Stop on 086 00 10111. Informers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with the strictest confidence. Together we can achieve more.”
