TWO men linked to a spate of robberies at Japanese Gardens have been arrested. The Durban North SAPS crime prevention team apprehended the suspects on Tuesday this week after yet another armed robbery at the popular gardens. Since March last year, there has been 19 cases with the majority of the robberies committed near the bottom of the park, near Waterkant Road.

Capt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the station, said the two men were arrested on the M4, walking towards Blue Lagoon. They were found is possession of the stolen items and three knives.

“After robbing a woman of a diamond ring, worth R50 000, a pair of sunglasses and a cell phone, the four suspects split up. Two of them changed their clothes and were walking on the freeway when they were spotted. Our members searched the men and found three butterfly knives and the diamond ring. The items of clothing matched the victim’s description of what the suspects were wearing.

“Our detectives have taken over the case and have linked the men to more than eight theft cases in the area which are separate to the Japanese Gardens robberies. Unfortunately two other suspects got away but we are still working on leads to catch the men. While management at the gardens have beefed up security, the criminals have taken to climbing over the barbed wire fencing or pretending to be visitors in the park,” he said.