Would-be robber and fraudsters arrested in East
A possible business robbery was foiled as the very same clothing outlet was robbed in 2021.
A man was arrested for possession of an unlicenced firearm at the Atterbury Value Mart shopping centre on Tuesday.
Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Office Duane Lightfoot said the crime prevention unit were patrolling the area when they were approached by one of the security guards at the centre.
“He informed them of a suspicious looking man that entered one of the clothing stores,” Lightfoot said.
“As the police approached the suspect, he ran out of the shop. The members caught up with him and started to search him.”
An unlicenced pistol and some ammunition were found in his possession.
The man, in his mid-20s, was from Mamelodi.
“He was detained and charged for being in possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition.”
Garsfontein police station Commander Colonel Kevin Solomons applauded the police and the security guard for their good work.
“We feel that a possible business robbery was foiled as the very same clothing outlet was robbed in 2021,” Solomons said.
On the same day two men were arrested for falsifying a car registration plate.
Lightfoot said the crime prevention unit were patrolling the area of Val de Grace when they spotted a silver Volkswagen Polo.
“A well-trained eye of one of the officers saw that the rear registration plate of the Polo looked abnormal,” he said.
The vehicle was pulled over and on closer inspection the officers found that a different number plate was placed over the original plate.
“As the officers continued their search of the vehicle and the two occupants, they found car breaking equipment and a computer unit of another vehicle in their possession.”
The two men, in their early 40s, were both from Eersterust. They were arrested and charged for being in possession of car breaking equipment and fraud.
All three men appeared at the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Wednesday, March 16.
“We are still experiencing a high number of vehicle thefts in Garsfontein and hope this arrest will help to bring this priority crime down,” Lightfoot said.
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