Cops clamp down on alleged syndicates targeting Lephalale

Police on separate occasions last week arrested seven persons suspected of being part of a crime syndicate targeting businesses in Lephalale.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe indicated that during the first incident Police arrested five suspects along the R101 near Pienaarsrivier last Tuesday after an alleged business robbery in Lephalale earlier that day.
The suspects were arrested during a sting joint operation comprised of members of Bela-Bela and Pienaarsrivier Police, Modimolle Public Order Policing Unit (Pops), Lephalale Community Police Forum and a private tracking company.
Police were notified of a business robbery in Lephalale and, supported by a private helicopter, conducted a manhunt which led to a minibus matching the description of the alleged getaway vehicle being spotted passing Bela-Bela towards Pretoria. According to Ngoepe the vehicle was traced by on-the-ground units, stopped and searched. Police found a large number of different cell phones believed to have been robbed in Lephalale.
All the occupants of the minibus were arrested on the scene.
Two 9 mm pistols with 27 rounds of live ammunition plus cell phones worth an estimated R100 000 were confiscated.
Another joint operation Police, following a robbery at a store in Phahladira Section in the Ga-Shongwane area outside Lephalale, saw the arrest of two suspects in the early hours of last Monday.
Ngoepe indicated that one of the two resisted arrest, produced a firearm and started shooting at Police upon which they retaliated. One suspect was wounded and is recuperating under Police guard at a nearby hospital..
All suspects were expected to appear in respective courts late last week but no update on their appearance was available at the time of going to print.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba commended the members of the units involved as well as community based crime prevention structures for tracking and apprehending the suspects.

Story: RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com