The Benoni cluster task team received information of suspicious-looking people at a bank in the CBD this morning and staked out the area.
The City Times reported online on September 4, that investigations were underway into at least seven armed robbery incidents where people were robbed of between R7 000 and R70 000 after making withdrawals.
Benoni Police Station acting station commander, Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen, told the City Times on September 4 that spotters watch their victim’s every move in the bank.
He said they stand in the queue and pretend to be waiting in line at a teller.
Once their victim has withdrawn money, spotters on the street keep tabs on the identified person exiting the bank.
Van Nieuwenhuizen said these spotters inform accomplices in vehicles who then follow these people to a “suitable area” to rob them.
Lieut Nomsa Sekele, Benoni SAPS spokesperson, said the Benoni cluster task team pounced on two people in a Mercedes this morning.
Two accomplices, who had exited the bank when police made their move on the suspects in the vehicle, managed to flee from police on foot.
The two arrestees, aged 45 and 52, were found in possession of an unlicensed pistol and revolver.
Both guns’ serial numbers were filed off.
The 52-year-old man has been linked to bank-related crimes committed in Hammanskraal, Lenasia and Temba this year.
He is also on parole after being convicted of a bank-related crime which was committed in Sandton, in 2007.
Police are currently attempting to link the men to other crimes and are trying to establish whether they are responsible for robbing people who withdrew money from banks in Benoni.
The men will be charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
More charges may be added.
