The South African Police Service have announced that it arrested a gang of twelve (12) armed robbers and recovered firearms following a failed robbery attempt in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 16 April 2022 at about 3 pm.
This arrest came two days after another armed group was arrested and firearms were recovered in Sebokeng by the South African Police.
According to a statement by the South African Police Service, officers from the Highway Patrol, Johannesburg Flying Squad and K9 Unit were alerted while a robbery operation was ongoing at a transport company in Benoni.
Upon reaching the scene of the robbery, the law enforcement agents were confronted with bullets from about twelve armed men.
A gun duel ensued when police arrived and due to the superior firepower of the police, twelve people were arrested, and five illegal firearms were seized from them.
Investigation into the matter revealed that about fourteen armed men initially arrived in a vehicle and three trucks, and held the security personnel at gunpoint. After that, the suspects then hijacked trailers loaded with copper.
While the gang was still at the premises, police and private security guards arrived and intercepted them, resulting in a firefight and the arrest of perpetrators was made.
This is the second robbery attempt within a week in the area as last Thursday, which was on the 14th of April 2022, police in Sebokeng foiled a similar robbery attempt and arrested four suspects who were found with two pistols and a rifle.
According to SAPS, the police crime intelligence unit obtained information about a robbery attempt by armed robbers on a liquor store in Sebokeng Zone 14.
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Upon receiving the intel, a squad made up of the Crime Intelligence Unit, Sedibeng Task Team, Sedibeng Tactical Response Team, Sedibeng K9 Unit, and Sedibeng Flying Squad maintained a careful eye on the suspects and kept them under surveillance.
The suspect’s vehicle, which matched the description provided, was sighted near the booze store at about 5:15 pm.
After some time, the gang of about seven armed men broke into the booze store and upon sighting the police, the suspects began shooting at them sporadically forcing the security agents to return fire.
However, due to the superior firepower of the security agents, four suspects were arrested and three guns including two pistols and a rifle was recovered from them.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the operational vehicle, a red VW Polo, used by the criminals was allegedly stolen in Vereeniging last year.
The SAPS revealed that all the suspects will be profiled, and the confiscated firearms will be put through ballistic tests to see if there are any connections to other crimes.
Source: South African Police Service.
