LIMPOPO – According to police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, people in the Giyani area have been subjected to a reign of terror by a group of criminals, targeting them from different banks within the Giyani CBD.
“Victims were often followed after withdrawing money from banks in the area and when arriving at their homes, these criminals would then pounce on them and rob them of money at gunpoint,” he explained.
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Ngoepe says following a number of reported incidents since October 2017, with similar modus operandi, a dedicated team of police detectives, led by Colonel Chris Mabasa, was established and initial investigations ensued.
“A breakthrough was made on Saturday, 6 January 2018, when two suspects between the ages of 25 and 31-years-old, were arrested during a robbery at a bank in the Giyani CBD.”
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During the arrest, two unlicensed firearms were recovered and the suspects are expected to appear before the Giyani Magistrate Court today, on charges of armed robbery, house robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms.
“In all the case dockets opened, the consolidated amount of cash robbed from victims is R3.7 million and more cases are still being reported, which will increase this amount,” Ngoepe explained.
Anyone who became a victim of this syndicate is urged to either go to the Giyani Police Station or the nearest police station or call Colonel Chris Mabasa at 082 469 0739.
Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Nneke Ledwaba, has commended the team of detectives on a job well done, especially for solving a chain of criminal acts.
“We hope that this milestone achievement will bring relief to the communities in and around Giyani, especially all the affected victims,” Ledwaba said.
