Cornered robbery suspects open fire
The suspects were seen coming out of one of the resident's garages, where they had been hiding, but found themselves surrounded.
Two housebreaking suspects tried to shoot their way to freedom after they were cornered by members of the Dalpark CPF and Brakpan police, on Saturday morning, last week.
The pair allegedly broke into a house along Boekenhout Street.
According to Brian Welby-Cooke, PRO for the Dalpark Community Policing Forum, the homeowner called for help via his CPF radio at around 3.20am.
“Within minutes, around 30 CPF members had rallied to the call and it was noted that the burglars had run into an adjacent property,” he said.
The area was completely surrounded and a systematic search commenced.
“One of the CPF members clambered onto a roof for a better view, only to find himself looking down the barrel of a gun, as the two suspects were on the same roof,” said Welby-Cooke.
“Thankfully he jumped over a parapet wall, which took the bullet intended for him, and he fell unhurt to the ground.”
The suspects also jumped from the roof and ran off.
In the meantime, the CPF had contacted the police, who reacted quickly, and the search began.
Residents were woken up and house-to-house searches were conducted by the CPF members.
The police brought in the K9 Unit with a sniffer dog, to try to speed up the process of capturing the suspects.
At around 6.15am the suspects were seen coming out of one of the resident’s garages, where they had been hiding, and found themselves surrounded by CPF and police members.
“Shots were fired by the suspects as they tried to escape, and they jumped over the walls of a few adjacent properties,” said Welby-Cooke.
Shots were fired in return and the two suspects were injured, and then apprehended.
“The firearm they were using, as well as a bag with their break-in tools, was recovered,” said Welby-Cooke.
“They were taken to hospital under police guard, with some minor wounds to their legs.”
Capt Joep Joubert, spokesperson for the Brakpan Police Station commander, told the Herald that the suspects, aged 34 and 36, appeared in the Brakpan Magistrates Court on Monday.
“They face several charges, including attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” he said.
“One of the suspects has also been linked to a 2013 case of housebreaking.”
The case was postponed to February 16 and the men remain in custody.
Welby-Cooke urged members of the public to join their local CPF branch and to help police to combat crime.
Also read:
Dalpark resident shoots suspected robber
Elderly targeted: wheelchair-bound woman robbed
‘I’m sorry’ – armed thug apologises to victim during robbery
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