Police chase ends in multiple arrests

More information about a recent car chase involving police and three suspects came to light.

On 6 February suspected robbers left their getaway car and firearm behind at the Krugersdorp Taxi Rank.

Bystanders told the news they believe the suspects came to the taxi rank by car and then decided to split up with one taking the high road and fleeing into the nearby ditch and the other suspects getting into a taxi. The details of what happened before the chase were still unclear.

However, police confirm that three suspects entered a local spaza shop in Makulogama in Krugersdorp West, and robbed the store owner by gunpoint.

“The one suspect entered the store pretending to be a customer,” says Constable Tshepiso Mashale, Spokesperson for the Krugersdorp police station.

The other two suspects followed him into the shop shortly afterwards and held the owner at gunpoint.

The suspects demanded money and after receiving an undisclosed amount of cash they locked the owner in the container and fled the scene.

“Luckily the owner had a spare key on him and manage to free himself, catching a glimpse of their getaway car,” says Mashale.

He then called for help as the Opel Astra Estate drove off with his money.

A Help24 vehicle, which was in the area quickly gave chase and met up with the police along the way who joined the chase.

Police then gave chase down Muller Street, into Luipaard Street, past Hoërskool Jan de Klerk when they finally stopped at the Krugersdorp Taxi Rank.

Two of the suspects managed to get away in a taxi to Kagiso and made contact with the third suspect who was arrested after he was found hiding in a ditch.

The owner of the spaza shop positively identified the suspect as one of the robbers and he was then taken into police custody.

The suspects left behind their getaway car and an unlicensed firearm.