KZN police reacted swiftly to a business robbery at Springfield Park area and arrested two suspects aged 22 and 27 who were allegedly involved.
According to Col Thembeka Mbhele from provincial SAPS, the other four suspects are still at large and the police are still searching for them. An unlicensed pistol suspected to be used during the robbery was recovered during the arrest of one of the suspects.
“The arrested suspects are due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon facing business robbery and attempted murder,” she said.
On Sunday afternoon at around 2.45pm at least six suspects entered one of the businesses at Aloefield Road in the Springfield area.
They allegedly threatened employees and customers with firearms and knives, and took an undisclosed amount of cash from employees. They also searched customers and took their cellphones and wallets.
“While fleeing, they shot and wounded a customer in his leg. All suspects fled the scene and local police, assisted by neighbouring police stations, reacted to the robbery. One suspect was later traced and arrested by the police. It is alleged that the other two suspects ran into the Umgeni River and attempted to swim across the river, however one of the suspects got into difficulties and was found hiding in the water and arrested by the SAPS Search and Rescue unit. The other four suspects are still at large,” she said.
KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial commissioner, Maj Gen Bheki Langa praised the members for their swift reaction to the robbery that led to the arrest of two suspects. “Our trio crime unit together with our detectives will work harder to establish if the arrested suspects are not part of the gang that is terrorising the businesses in the province. The police will trace those who are still at large and bring them to book,” he said.
