Four men on the SAPS’s wanted list, for a spate of vehicle thefts, were tracked down last Thursday.
Three of the men were arrested, while the fourth was shot and fatally wounded by members of the EMPD.
The arrests took place after two of the men allegedly stole a Toyota Hilux in the Meadowdale Mall parking lot at midday.
Upon realising that the vehicle was missing, the owner activated the tracking system.
“Independent witnesses alerted the police to a charcoal Nissan Almera, with two occupants, who appeared to be accomplices to the thieves of the Toyota Hilux, as it was seen tailing the stolen Toyota,” said Wilfred Kgasago, spokesman for the EMPD.
The GPS coordinates of the vehicle’s movements were followed by both EMPD Equestrian Unit members, as well as SAPS members on patrol in the area.
“At 12.45pm, the EMPD Equestrian Unit members sighted the vehicle in Elandsfontein, at the intersection of Oribi and Kennis streets,” said Kgasago.
“The two suspects in the Almera tried to run over the EMPD officers when the officers confronted the occupants in the stolen Toyota Hilux.
“The Almera passenger was shot in the shoulder and the driver arrested.
“The wounded suspect is in a hospital under police guard.”
The two occupants of the Toyota Hilux abandoned the vehicle and bolted on foot.
Metro police officers pursued the suspects on foot, whereupon one of the suspects pointed a firearm at them.
He was shot and fatally wounded.
The other suspect was arrested.
“Use of technology revealed that all four of the suspects were on a police wanted list for a spate of thefts of vehicles,” Kgasago said.
“They were found in possession of a plethora of sophisticated car-breaking implements, which included ignition keys and computer boxes for various vehicles.
“A data-dot reader revealed that the Almera had been stolen in Soshanguve, in August 2015.”
All the suspects, including the deceased, are in their mid-30s.
Charges of vehicle theft, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and resisting arrest were registered at the Bedfordview Police Station.
The two suspects who came out of the incident unscathed were expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court on January 8.
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