The house robbery suspecsts were terrorising Tshwane South and Johannesburg North suburbs.
Four suspected house robbers have been shot dead during a dramatic shootout with police in Tshwane, north of Johannesburg.
The gun battle played out along the N14 after police officers supported by private security and aerial surveillance pursued the suspects in a high-speed chase.
Intelligence
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said Gauteng Highway Patrol, working with private security officials, was following up on information from Crime Intelligence regarding house robbery suspects terrorising Tshwane South and Johannesburg North suburbs.
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Muridili said that during the tracing operation, at about 3pm, the members spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspects’ getaway car on the R55 in Centurion and tried to stop it.
Shootout
She said the suspects sped off, and a high-speed chase ensued.
“Gauteng Traffic Air Wing was called for backup to support the team with aerial surveillance. The suspects took the N14 on-ramp towards Pretoria, and when the police closed in, the suspects started shooting towards the police.
“The members then retaliated, fatally shooting all four occupants. Upon searching the vehicle, the police found three handguns and ammunition as well as housebreaking implements,” Muridili said.
Other robberies
Muridili said preliminary investigation also revealed that the vehicle, a white Hyundai sedan, was mounted with false registration plates and discs.
“These suspects have already been linked with 18 house robberies. Saps Forensic Crime Scene Management was on the scene, as well as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Kidnapping syndicate
Meanwhile, three members of a kidnapping syndicate were killed and three others arrested in the Eastern Cape during the rescue of an Ethiopian national.
A coordinated operation led by the East London DPCI Kidnapping Task Team, supported by the East London Tracking Team and Provincial Crime Intelligence, among other law enforcement agencies, successfully dismantled the violent criminal syndicate on Wednesday.
Rescue
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the incident began on the N2 near Kat Kat Farm between Qonce and Peddie when two victims were allegedly ambushed by a white sedan.
Fumba stated that the task team conducted a strategic operation, which resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the rescue of the Ethiopian national.
He said the Hawks then swooped in at the suspect’s hideout. The suspects fired at officers who returned fire and killed three armed suspects.
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