Kagiso police believe they have made a breakthrough following the arrest of eight heavily armed suspects as reported by the NEWS recently.
The suspects aged between 23 and 35 were arrested following information about eight armed men driving around in two vehicles.
The suspects noticed the police and tried to flee, but were cornered by members of the K9 Unit. Five firearms were recovered from the two vehicles, as well as live ammunition and a security reflector jacket.
The eight suspects were charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunition and are set to appear in the Kagiso Magistrates’ Court.
Kagiso SAPS Station Commander, Brigadier Ngubane commended the members for the arrest.
Last year the community experienced a number of house robberies. A CPF chairperson from Azaadville was shot and killed during a robbery at his shop. It was alleged that four people entered his business premises on Jacob Street, Chamdor near Kagiso on that day, and demanded money from the shop owner at gunpoint. When he resisted he was shot and killed, and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. The suspects fled the scene in two vehicles.
“The late Ishmael Shaik was an active and effective member who contributed positively in the fight against crime,” says Ngubane.
“We believe that the arrest and confiscation of the five firearms mean that the police are closing the net on such serious and violent crimes in the area. Members will continue to enforce the law with the aim to prevent armed robberies and possibility loss of innocent lives because it is a well-known fact that firearms are used commonly to commit serious crimes.”
“We will continue to enforce the law, but as the police we also require a helping hand from the community to give us information about suspicious or illegal activities. A strong team of detectives will be assembled to investigate the case with the intention to discover any other crime linked to the suspects,” he concludes.
