QUICK response from the police led to the arrest of four men in two separate criminal incidents in Strathay Road in Westville last week.
According to Capt Elizabeth Squires, communication officer at Westville SAPS, police were alerted to a house robbery in progress in Strathay Road in Westville on Friday 12 August around 8.20am. The Flying Squad was close by and responded.
“Four men had held up a family and were on their way out from the property. Flying Squad members exchanged shots with the robbers as they fled towards the gorge towards Clermont. One robber dropped his firearm in the yard which was recovered by police. Shortly afterwards a man was arrested by Pinetown Task Team and KwaDabeka Crime Prevention for possession of stolen property, possibly linked to the scene. The suspect’s description matched that of the video footage,” said Squires.
The 33-year old-man was arrested and will appear in Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on charges of house robbery. The members from the Flying Squad, Dog Unit and security companies involved were commended.
The second incident occurred on Saturday, 13 August around 8.30pm. The victim had parked his silver Jeep Cheroke in his garage when he was confronted by three unknown men who demanded the keys for the vehicle.
Squires said it is believed the men battled to start the vehicle so they forced the victim to drive the vehicle out of his property. They forced him out of the vehicle on Strathay Road. The vehicle was tracked to the KwaDabeka area.
“A combined operation between Metro Police, SAPS and the tracking company to find the carjackers led to a shootout. One man was fatally injured, another injured and taken to hospital and a third man arrested and detained at Westville SAPS, who will appear at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on the charges of hijacking. The men are aged between 19 and 38 years old,” said Squires.
