Robbers threaten to shoot church members during robbery

A church in Yeoville, Johannesburg, was robbed by four men while still in session on January 21, Joburg East Express reports.

According to congregants, four suspects entered the church on Muller and Bedford streets at about 11am.

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One was carrying a firearm, and they threatened to shoot at the congregation members if they did not give them their belongings.

The suspects searched them and took their belongings and fled the scene.

Yeoville SAPS spokesperson Captain Sifiso Mabizela said Constable Nkgweng, Constable Banyeni and members of the SAPS Flying Squad responded to the complaint.

“On their arrival, a community member who was driving past, informed the police that he saw the motor vehicle that had been used by the robbers. The person led the police to an address on Grafton and Louis Botha avenues where the vehicle was found parked outside. The police then received information about the room where the suspects could be found,” said Mabizela.

When officers arrived, four men started running away and were chased.

Two suspects were caught while attempting to jump over a wall.

Mabizela said both suspects were positively identified by the complainants and were arrested.

One suspect was found in possession of a firearm and several items belonging to congregation members including four sets of car keys, two handbags, cellular phones and three tablets.

The two suspects, aged 37 and 40, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on January 23.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are still searching for the remaining two suspects.

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