BETHAL – Two armed robbers who were caught and arrested at the N17 bridge in Bethal last Thursday, 7 February, are expected to soon appear in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court and then in the Morgenzon Periodical Court where they will stand in the dock with three other accomplices.
The five are suspected of robbing Pep Stores in Morgenzon last Thursday.
Three of them fled in a Lexus and were later apprehended along the N12 highway, near the Kendal off-ramp. The other two fled towards Bethal in a black Volvo S40.
Mr Hennie Bekker, regional organiser of AfriForum, was also driving from the direction of Morgenzon and heading to Bethal when two men in a black Volvo overtook him at a high speed.
“I overtook them. Just then I received notification of the robbery and a description of the getaway car,” said Mr Bekker.
He alerted the Bethal CPF and the farmers in the area that he had the suspected vehicle in sight.
He slowed down so that the suspects could again overtake and he then followed them into the town. At this stage the police, CPF members and security officers (HABPS) were also following the suspects.
“I think the driver realised near the Spur restaurant that they were being followed. The car sped up and we took chase through the intersections straight onto the N17,” explained Mr Bekker.
The police tried to pull over the suspects and a shoot out ensued.
The driver made a sudden turn onto the Kriel/Ogies off-ramp, but lost control over the vehicle, rolled and ended up in the veld.
Mr Bekker said the driver remained in the car and was arrested by Mr David Townsend from HABPS.
The fleeing passenger was quickly apprehended by the police.
The suspects, aged 28 and 53 years old, were found in possession of a firearm without a licence.
The three men in the Lexus thought to be their accomplices,were arrested by patrolling police members from Phola, near Ogies.
Col Bhembe Mtsholi, provincial spokesman, said the members spotted a white Lexus that was travelling at a high speed and signaled for it to stop.
“After the vehicle came to a hault, the members called for backup from the Middelburg Flying Squad and as a collective.
The members managed to recover two big traveling bags filled with sealed cell phones, two unlicensed firearms, ammunition and an extra set of false registration plates.”
Col Bhembe said five men are reported to have held up the staff and customers of Pep Stores Morgenzon at gunpoint and stole cell phones from the shop, an undisclosed amount of cash from the tills and other valuables.
The police are currently profiling the suspects to verify if they are not linked to other cases.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/131967/armed-robbers-morgenzon-caught-bethal/
