TWO recent arrests involving suspects targeting pedestrians have thrust common robberies into the spotlight, particularly in the Greenwood Park policing precinct.

In November two cases on Workington Road and another on Lothian Road were reported to law enforcement.

In all, four suspects were arrested across the two incidents.

The common robbery tactics sees criminals targeting people walking on pavements and robbing them of their cellphones.

Also read: Three suspects linked to Durban North thefts arrested

Typically the criminals pull up next to the victim in a vehicle, grab them and rob them of their possessions before fleeing the scene.

In the most recent case on Workington Road last Sunday (November 23), Marshall Security recovered a firearm found hidden beneath the driver’s seat of the suspects’ vehicle after a robbery had occurred earlier in the week.

“Three suspects, one armed with a firearm, threatened and robbed a female pedestrian of her cellphone, and demanded her password before fleeing in a red vehicle. It was later confirmed that the firearm had been reported stolen in May this year in the KwaDabeka area,” said Marshall Security spokesperson Tyron Powell.

Meanwhile Colonel Mbongeni Samuel Khalishwayo, Station Commander of Greenwood Park SAPS, has also urged pedestrians to be vigilant when walking in the area.

“Most of the cases reported have been cellphone robberies. We urge people to conceal their cellphones so that they don’t become victims (they must not visibly carry their cellphones). There is a syndicate recently arrested and is linked to several cases when we look at crime patterns, but identification parades will prove beyond reasonable doubt if they are positive,” he said.

He urged residents to report cases in order to co-ordinate crime-driven operations.

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