Four arrested with illegal firearms
“The officers sprang into action, and before the unaware suspects could react, they were face down on the tarmac and handcuffed,” said Miller.
A gang believed to have been behind a series of armed robberies in Centurion over the past few months using a White VW Golf has been arrested.
Around 14:30 on June 28, police made the arrests after a suspicious vehicle matching the description from the armed robberies was spotted.
Four suspected armed robbers were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in Lyttelton.
Lyttelton SAPS spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said that the arrests were made in the Centurion CBD at a fast food outlet.
“The car has been associated with several armed robberies over the past few months, and officers have been hard at work identifying the vehicle and arresting the suspects,” said Miller.
Miller said that police officers spotted the car fitting the description of the vehicle and formulated a “tactical takedown”, and approached the suspects to make the arrests.
“The officers sprang into action, and before the unaware suspects could react, they were face down on the tarmac and handcuffed,” said Miller.
Officers then secured the scene and searched the suspects.
They discovered four unlicensed firearms with serial numbers filed off.
INITIAL CHARGES FOR THE ARRESTED
The vehicle that the suspects were in was fitted with counterfeit registration plates belonging to a similar model vehicle.
Miller said that the four suspects would face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as fraud in connection with the counterfeit number plates.
These charges are only the initial charges.
Miller said that the SAPS were anticipating charges of armed robbery to be added at a later stage.
The suspects will appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s court within 48 hours of their arrest.
Miller said that detectives from Lyttelton SAPS would be at court to oppose any bail application.
Lyttelton police station commander Brigadier Thebeng Matlala applauded the arrests.
Matlala said that all pending cases in which the suspects are associated would be presented before the magistrate’s court.
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