AN intelligence driven operation by various police units lead to the arrest of a leader of one of the gangs responsible for many mall robberies in the province.
Brigadier Jay Naicker from provincial SAPS said detectives from the Provincial Mall Robbery Task Team had been tracking the movements of the suspect who remained very elusive and was possibly aware that police were looking for him. Police launched an operation on Monday night, after identifying two residences at AA section and BB section in Umlazi, used as hideouts by these criminals.
“During the operation, two suspects were arrested including the leader of a mall robbery gang. It is believed this gang targeted shops that sold jewellery and wrist watches. Police were able to recover wrist watches and expensive perfumes taken in some of the robberies. The main suspect is positively linked to at least three mall robberies while the second suspect was found in possession of goods taken during a fourth robbery. Both men are in their early thirties and will appear in court soon,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the arrests. “The Provincial Mall Robbery Task Team has been working around the clock to trace many of the suspects identified during their investigations. It is only a matter of time before we reel in other suspects involved in various mall robberies. We appeal to the community not to buy stolen goods and support these criminal gangs,” he said.
