One alleged robber shot, another arrested following Mbombela guest house robbery
A guest house was the target of a robbery earlier this week.
The police in Mbombela are investigating a case of business robbery after a guest house in Sonheuwel was targeted on August 3 around 20:30.
Parallel to the investigation is a probe regarding an alleged suspect who was reportedly shot and killed after the robbery.
A man was also apprehended in connection with the robbery and charged for possession of suspected stolen properties.
The police said according to information, two armed suspects were said to have stormed into a guest house, tied up the workers, robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash and cellphones, and then fled the scene.
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“An organised group, including security guards and some community members, reportedly traced the alleged suspects to one of the taverns in the CBD and cornered one man. Some of the cellphones and cash suspected to have been stolen during the robbery were allegedly found in the suspect’s possession,” read the police statement.
“According to the group, the second suspect fled, but they gave chase as he ran towards the taxi rank where he jumped over the wall to the Spoornet premises. In the process, it is said that shots were fired.
“A few minutes later, the man was found by a Spoornet employee, lying motionless. The employee alerted the police to the incident and upon arrival, they discovered that the man, aged 35, had a gunshot wound.”
Paramedics also attended the scene.
“The man was certified dead by medical personnel on the scene. The circumstances surrounding the shooting of the alleged suspect are currently being investigated by the police.
“Further than that, a firearm with live rounds and some of the cellphones and cash were also found at the scene.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the items could be the ones allegedly stolen from victims during the guest house robbery.”
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Meanwhile, the statement continued, the firearm retrieved from the deceased is said to have been stolen during a July house break-in in Mbombela.
The arrested suspect appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on August 5 facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen properties. He could also possibly be linked to the robbery incident at the guest house.
The police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against him as the investigation continues.
The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has welcomed the arrest of the suspect as well as the recovery of suspected stolen properties.
