Three arrested with multiple stolen vehicles, firearms in North
“Multiple stencils which are being used to tamper with vehicle ; VIN and engine numbers were also seized.”
Tshwane police have arrested three people linked to numerous trio crimes – carjacking, house and business robberies – which have recently been assigned as a top priority in Gauteng.
The arrests were made on Monday by an intelligence-driven operation by the prevention and combating of trio crimes unit which linked the suspects to crime sprees in Tshwane.
The suspects were arrested following collaboration between the police, Gauteng traffic saturation unit and Tracker Connect and were linked to numerous trio crimes reported around Tshwane district, said police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Sello.
Sello said according to a preliminary report, the team obtained information on various theft, carjacking, house and business robberies reported in Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve.
She said information received was operationalised and a multi-disciplinary team executed an intelligence-driven operation.
“During the operation police arrested three suspects, aged between 26 and 39.”
She said police recovered three stolen vehicles, two unlicensed firearms, ammunition, false number plates, cellphones and various suspected stolen property.
“Multiple stencils which are being used to tamper with vehicles’ VIN and engine numbers were also seized.”
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Sello said the firearms would be subjected to ballistic tests to determine if they could be linked to other crimes.
The suspects face charges of possession of stolen vehicles, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.
Gauteng police provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, commended the sterling work done by the SAPS members and other role players in achieving this success.
“We stand resolute in fighting crime in Gauteng, nothing is going to deter us and those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law will surely face the consequences,” said Mawela.
Police minister Bheki Cele recently announced that aggravated robberies such as carjackings had increased by 3.5% compared to a year ago.
“This figure would have increased by 1.9% if compared to same period in 2019/2020.”
He said the country’s most feared crimes which include robbery and residential and non-residential robberies had decreased by 6,7% and 1,4%.
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