Robbers caught red-handed
Armed robbers were trapped inside a butchery by police while they were attempting to rob the establishment at 08:30 on Monday morning.
According to its spokesman Capt Zandile Gwaqa, the Nelspruit SAPS received a tip-off that a burglary was in progress at a butchery situated in Bester Street.
White River Flying Squad members were also called in. The commander of the squad, Capt Pieter Smit, confirmed that their team responded to the scene.
ACS Security’s John Meintjies said one of their armed response officers was driving on the R40 and saw police heading towards Bester Street. “He immediately called some of our guards stationed at the Plaza Centre and they followed the police to the butchery.”
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Upon the SAPS’ instruction, the security members closed the doors of the shop so nobody could exit while officers swooped on the suspects inside.
Three men and a woman were busy holding the staff at gunpoint and packing meat into bags when the police surprised and arrested them.
The suspects are facing charges of business robbery and possession of three firearms without licences.
Officials are busy profiling them to determine if they were involved in any other criminal cases.
The suspects, aged between 26 and 33, are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon.
Another operation on Friday, carried out by SAPS as well as the City of Mbombela Local Municipality’s law-enforcement officers, led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of suspected stolen items as well as illicit goods.
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Gwaqa said among the recovered property was TV sets, music systems, electrical appliances, cellphones, watches, gold necklaces, bolt cutters and many others.
“During the arrest, more than 90 KAT plants were also seized.”
Police were in the process of trying to determine and identify the owners of the recovered property.
She said among those arrested was a 42-year-old man believed to be the receiver of stolen goods and mastermind behind the spate of burglaries at residences, as well as theft out of motor vehicle cases which had been plaguing the city in recent months.
All the suspects, aged between 36 and 42, appeared in the Nelspruit District Court on Monday.
Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma applauded the police for their swift response as well as the cooperation from the community.
