Five suspected ATM bombers arrested at fuel station in Bandelierkop

The police in the Bandelierkop policing area outside Polokwane have arrested five suspected ATM bombers. The arrests were made on 2 April, according to Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.

Ngoepe said their arrests are among 1 298 suspects arrested by Limpopo police this past week.

“The police received information about ATM bombing suspects driving in a white Mahindra bakkie along the N1 South towards Makhado. They spotted a vehicle with the same description at a fuel station in Bandelierkop and tactically surrounded the area while others approached the vehicle.”

Ngoepe said they found two men in the vehicle and these men then pointed out another three men who were inside the garage’s store.

“Other teams of police reacted and everyone at the garage was commanded to comply with police instructions and the three men were arrested. The Mahindra bakkie was seized and all five suspects were positively linked to the Lebowakgomo attempted ATM bombing incident that was reported during March,” his statement read.

The simultaneous, intelligence-driven joint operations were done in all five districts of the province, and, according to Ngoepe,  suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery and rape, to burglaries, theft, possession of suspected stolen properties and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

“Police seized various items which included 14 illegal firearms and ammunition, eight suspected stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, six cellphones, four TV’s, 4 459 counterfeit cigarettes, 104 dangerous weapons including 79 knives. They also confiscated 551g of dagga, 15 dagga plants, 40g of Mandrax powder, 108g of nyaope, three Vodacom tower batteries and liquor,” he said.

Ngoepe added that 2 454 fines were issued for the contravention of the Road Traffic Act, while 20 shebeens were closed and 169 suspects were nabbed for the Contravention of the Disaster Management Act.

In one of the arrests, members of the Saps Limpopo Highway Patrol Team arrested a 32-year-old man, who was found in possession of suspected stolen properties in Modimolle.

“On Friday, 2 April, the team received a report from Vodacom that one of their tower batteries was being tempered within Modimolle. Members quickly reacted to the complaint and while reaching the area, they came across a suspicious blue Chevrolet motor vehicle driving at a high speed coming from the towers’ directions,” he explained.

Ngoepe said police tried to stop the vehicle but the driver did not stop and a vehicle chase ensued until a traffic light in town.

“The driver stopped and ran on foot. They chased him until he was caught. They returned to the vehicle and searched it, where they recovered three Vodacom tower batteries, valued at R161 000, as well as other items,” he added.

Meanwhile, in the Mahwelereng policing area, a 37-year-old man was arrested for dealing and possession of dagga and bribery.

“On Saturday, 3 April, the police were tipped off about a suspect selling dagga in the area. The leads were followed and the said suspect was spotted carrying a black plastic bag. He was searched and found in possession of eight transparent sachets, 30 medium transparent sachets, 36 small transparent sachets, six matchboxes and 13 half-matchboxes all containing dagga. A cash amount of money was also found,” Ngoepe said.

He added that the man offered the members a gratification of R2 000 and that a bribery case was then added to his offences.

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba welcomed the arrests.

“These successes are a manifestation that our members are truly dedicated to the their duties of keeping the citizens of Limpopo safe at all times,” said Ledwaba.

The arrested suspects have started appearing in various magistrate’s courts for various offences throughout the province.