Winterton police arrested ten suspects minutes after they allegedly committed an armed robbery at a local spaza shop in the area.
All the stolen items were recovered and an unlicensed firearm suspected to be used during the robbery was also seized.

The arrested suspects aged between 18 and 28 appeared in the Weenen Magistrates Court facing charges of armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. On Friday, March 27 at 8pm the victim was in his spaza shop in Winterton when he was approached by the group of suspects. They allegedly pointed firearms at him and robbed him of cash, cellphones and cigarettes before they fled the scene in their get away vehicle.

Winterton police who were driving in the area spotted the vehicle driving at high speed and they chased it. The said vehicle was stopped and searched. Ten suspects were arrested and were found in possession of goods taken during the robbery. An unlicensed 9mm pistol with nine live ammunition was recovered from the suspects. It will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if it was used in any other crimes in the province.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the speedy arrest of the suspects a few minutes after robbery.
“Members of Winterton police responded immediately to the suspicious vehicle even though they were not aware that it was involved in an armed robbery. This shows that our members are dedicated and committed in fighting crime in our province,” she said.