Various SAPS units conducted an operation in Umzinto last week where police followed-up on information about a group of armed robbers who were targeting residents.

The team made its way to a house at Nkonka Informal Settlement in Umzinto where they conducted a search and found a suspect (26) in possession of a pistol with four rounds of ammunition, R7 500 cash and a cellphone.

It was later discovered that the recovered cellphone was stolen during an Umzinto house robbery. The money found on the perpetrator is suspected to be stolen stokvel money.

On the evening of November 21, two armed men entered a house in Thafeni, Umzinto and demanded stokvel money. They were given an undisclosed amount and fled the scene on foot.

The one suspect who was arrested last week will be profiled for his involvement in the robbery case, as well as other cases reported in Umzinto and surrounding areas.

He has since appeared in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and possession of stolen property.

As the the festive season approaches, police appeal to stokvel members not to keep large amounts of cash at home, as people are being robbed of their cash and some killed for the money. Police advise people to consider safer options such as depositing the money into a bank account instead.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram