Eleven suspects who allegedly targeted Tshwane online shoppers, luring them to purchase items in person, were arrested yesterday.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the Gauteng police crime intelligence team received a tip-off that the suspects were about to rob a man they lured by advertising a truck for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

He says the team was mobilised, consisting of members from the Gauteng Highway Patrol Unit and Road Traffic Management Corporation.

The team approached the suspects when they met with the unsuspecting buyer, and the suspects opened fire. The officers retaliated.

“A shoot-out between police and [the] gang resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects.”

One suspect was shot.

Police recovered two unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni expressed his gratitude to the officers for their excellent work apprehending the criminals.

Basic safety tips when buying or selling online:

• Don’t share your personal information, such as banking details or physical address
• If you are meeting a buyer or seller in person, arrange to meet in a public and well-lit area or at the nearest police station
• Do research on the buyer or seller by visiting their private Facebook profile. Be cautious if the profile was recently created.