Shootout, police bust 23 and recovers 15 vehicles
“There were 27 suspects on the premises. Four suspects were shot and killed while four others were wounded. A total of 23 suspects, including the four wounded suspects are under arrest.”
Four vehicles that were either hijacked or stolen in the areas of Garsfontein, Silverton, Wierdabrug and Olifantsfontein were found in Midrand, Gauteng, during a police operation today.
The four cars formed part of fifteen vehicles that were found on premises in President Park along with 27 suspects that were busted.
General Khehla John Sitole, commissioner of national police, welcomed “the breakthrough to curb truck-jackings following the arrest of several suspects in Midrand, Gauteng, today”.
“The work done by this multidisciplinary integrated team today is a very significant contribution to our efforts to curb organised crime in the country,” said Sitole.
According to Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, national police spokesperson, police swooped in on suspects allegedly planning to hijack a truck between Pretoria and Johannesburg, during an intelligence driven operation.
“Members involved in the operation were from Crime Intelligence, the Johannesburg Flying Squad, Gauteng Highway Patrol, EMPD Specialised Task Team and JMPD K9.”
Naidoo said as the team entered the premises, they were met with gunfire from suspects who were armed with rifles and handguns.
“There were 27 suspects on the premises. Four suspects were shot and killed while four others were wounded. A total of 23 suspects, including the four wounded suspects are under arrest.
“The team seized three rifles including an AK-47, a Dashbrown rifle, a R5 rifle as well as two pistols. The team further confiscated 15 vehicles of which four were either hijacked or stolen in the areas of Garsfontein, Silverton, Wierdabrug and Olifantsfontein.”
Naidoo said the wounded suspects were taken to hospital under police guard while the remaining 19 suspects were detained. They face charges of attempted murder, conspiring to commit an robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of vehicles suspected to be stolen.
“We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information on crime to please contact the SAPS Crime Stop number on 086 00 10111 or information may be communicated via the MySAPSApp.
“All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.”
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