According to Col Biggs Govender, of the Boksburg SAPS, the firearms were subsequently recovered at a police station in Sandton.
“Investigations are underway to establish how the firearms ended up at the police station,” said Govender.
This came after alleged bogus cops robbed two Boksburg police officers of their firearms and car keys, in broad daylight, on Tuesday, July 28.
The fake cops, in police bulletproof vests, tricked the unsuspecting officers into believing that they were colleagues by using a police siren and flashing blue lights.
The robbers initially attacked a civilian, who was at the time driving in a Ford Fiesta along Rondebult Road, Parkdene, before the police’s ordeal unfolded.
The driver of the Ford was apparently carrying more than R300 000 at the time of the attack. It is, however, still unclear as to where was the cash in transit from and destined for.
The two thugs, driving in a vehicle described as a charcoal VW Golf equipped with a police siren and blue lights, reportedly tried to pull over the vehicle carrying the money, but the driver did not stop.
They then followed the Ford and opened fire on it, striking the windscreen and the boot, forcing the driver to stop.
The driver was reportedly hit in the leg during the shooting.
It then emerged that he also had a firearm, but it is unclear if he also opened fire on the fake cops, who subsequently overpowered him and robbed him.
This is when three Boksburg plain-clothes police officers (who are apparently part of a newly formed Boksburg SAPS task team), driving in an unmarked vehicle, noticed that something untoward was happening and proceeded to the scene.
However, the wailing police siren and flashing blue lights on the thugs’ vehicle fooled them into believing that the robbers were cops trying to apprehend a fleeing suspect.
They, therefore, thought they were at the scene merely to serve as backup.
To their great surprise, they found themselves staring down the barrels of guns, when the thugs stuck pistols in their faces, demanding that they put their firearms on the ground.
The robbers reportedly told the real cops that they were not convinced that they were real SAPS members, since they were driving in an unmarked vehicle and dressed as civilians.
Therefore they (the fake cops) demanded that the real police surrender their weapons at gunpoint, and they did.
The third real officer did not have his firearm with him at the time, as it was taken in for repairs before the incident.
The three were thus taken by surprise when the fake police grabbed their firearms and fled the scene.
Apart from the money still left behind in the targeted vehicle, police also found two 9mm cartridges, and two R5 assault rifle magazines were recovered on the scene.
One of the police officers involved applauded himself and his colleagues for escaping death, yet admitted that they fell for the trick.
“We are disappointed at being taken for a ride, but we have nothing to be ashamed of,” said the officer, who wished not to be named.
”Our presence saved lives, as we foiled the robbery in progress. It could have been worse if we were not there, considering that the victim was resisting the robbery.”
He admitted that he and his colleagues have learned to be extra vigilant in the future.
A colleague of the officers involved told the Advertiser that these members work tirelessly, have made a lot of arrests and recovered dozens of stolen goods.
Cases of robbery, attempted murder and impersonating a police officer were registered.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boksburg police on 011 841 6859.
No arrests have been made so far. -@FaniemFLK
Fake cops rob police of firearms, car keys
