Armed Tshwane traffic light ‘terroriser’ nabbed

A multi-stakeholder operation led to the arrest of a man who was allegedly terrorising commuters and motorists at a traffic light on the corner of Atterbury Road and Manitoba Drive in Faerie Glen, east of Pretoria.

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk, the man was arrested yesterday after he had just robbed another victim.

Van Dyk says the suspect is facing charges of armed robbery and being in possession of stolen property and a dangerous weapon.

“The suspect was found in possession of replica firearms which he used to rob his victims,” says Van Dyk.

Brinant Private Security group spokesperson Emile Rheeder says stakeholders received information about an armed robbery at the intersection of Atterbury and Manitoba.

The robbery happened at around 07:30.

“One member of the Garsfontein Sector 2 CPF witnessed the robbery and alerted patrollers, police and private security companies.”

Rheeder says the teams started searching for the robber.

“Communication was well maintained and exit/escape routes were closed.”

Rheeder says the teams saw the suspect who matched the clothing description given.

“This resulted in the arrest of the suspect who for weeks has been terrorising commuters.”

He says the suspect was found in possession of two imitation firearms and stolen property, including a laptop, a Samsung phone and a charging dock.

“Garsfontein police opened a case file [and detained] the suspect.”