The community played a role in two arrests in the CBD on Tuesday last week.
At about 4pm, Lt Col Pretty Kristof, Captain Mbhekiseni Sithole, Lt Constance Mbatha and Constable Philisiwe Ximba, all from Visible Policing Support, were on patrol in Murchison Street as part of the Festive Season Safety Plan when they spotted some people chasing after two others on foot.
They joined in the chase and learned that the two had just robbed someone of a large amount of cash in front of a local bank. As the robbers raced away, they fired shots at the community. They were followed to a vacant building in Albert Street, where the four police officers went in search of them and managed to arrest one suspect hiding inside.
They then called in back-up from Ladysmith TRT, the Ladysmith K9 Unit and Ladysmith CSC. The building was searched again, but no one was found. Just then, movement on top of the roof was spotted. Ladysmith TRT, K9 and CSC officers climbed onto the roof and arrested a second suspect hiding there. Stolen cash and an unlicensed firearm were recovered. The two suspects, aged 20 and 23, face charges which include robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm They are set to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court soon.
Ladysmith SAPS wish to express their sincere gratitude to the community members who followed the suspects or kept an eye on their movements and then relayed this information to police throughout the chase. The co-operation police received contributed greatly to their success in making these arrests.
