Four found with suspected stolen items arrested
A high-speed chase ensued after two drivers failed to stop for the police.
THE patrolling of the police along Quality Street and Balfour Road intersection in Jacobs resulted in the successful arrest of four suspects.
On Thursday, January 20, between 11:00 and 11:20, members from the provincial drugs and firearm task team units spotted a suspicious-looking white Toyota Etios and another maroon Etios driving recklessly in between traffic lights. The white car had two occupants.
According to Wentworth police’s spokesperson, Captain Mbuso Gumede, the unit officers gave a blue light signal to both drivers to stop, but both instead sped off and a chase ensued from Balfour Road.
“The maroon Etios took a separate route and disappeared. The officers then chased the white vehicle travelling at high speed towards the south coast. It turned into the N2 northbound, disregarding traffic lights, driving into oncoming traffic and proceeding into Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales Drive).
“The vehicle caused other motorists to slam their brakes in trying to avoid collisions. The police chased the vehicle into Vusi Mzimela Crescent, and it came to a stop at Cliff Crescent behind a bushy area. The driver and passenger jumped off, abandoned the vehicle, and ran into the bush,” he said.
The officers gave chase on foot while calling for backup from other units. The Metro Task Team Unit, Umlazi and Hillcrest K9 Dog units arrived immediately, and a dog patrolled the bush with a handler in search of the suspects. The two men were brought out from hiding in the dense bush and arrested.
“The maroon Etios was later seen by officers along Vusi Mzimela Road driving into Cliff Crescent. The woman driving was stopped by officers who searched the occupants, a driver and a male passenger who were still busy with their conversations on the phones.
“The two cell phones were confiscated, and information revealed that they were talking and sending messages to other suspects who needed to be fetched,” Gumede said.
He added that all four suspects, between the ages of 20 and 22, were arrested and both vehicles were seized. Various suspected stolen items, like cell phones, housebreaking implements, wheel caps, and a car radio were also seized. The white Etios was positively identified as hijacked in the Pietermaritzburg precinct.
“All four suspects have been detained and will be linked to other crimes that happened in the area, and or other areas. Both vehicles were impounded while investigations continue,” he said.
