Police foil robbery plot in Sandton

Parktown police yesterday thwarted a robbery in an affluent Sandton area when they intercepted two vehicles after receiving a tip-off.

The vehicles were being used by six armed men who were found in possession of two rifles and three pistols, loaded with live rounds of ammunition.

Acting on information received about a gang planning a robbery in Johannesburg using a marked courier truck, members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad kept watch and spotted a vehicle matching the description travelling on the N1 South.

Police followed the suspects until they stopped two vehicles on the M1 South in Sandton. The suspects were driving a branded courier company Ford bakkie and a white Toyota double cab bakkie.

A search of both vehicles revealed two rifles and three pistols, leading to the immediate arrest of the six people.

The suspects have been charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as conspiracy to commit robbery. The firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine if they have been used in any other crimes, and the suspects will be profiled to check for any links to other criminal activities.

Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni commended the members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad for their quick action in preventing what could have been a potentially deadly robbery.

“I thank our members from Johannesburg Flying Squad who acted swiftly after receiving the information and intercepting the suspects before they could commit [a] crime and possibly kill innocent people.

“I also thank the law-abiding community of Gauteng, who continue to alert the police about criminal activities that are about to take place in our province. Working together, we will squeeze the space for the criminals in Gauteng,” said Mthombeni.