POLOKWANE -This after a group of suspects were caught red-handed while committing a business robbery at a filling station in ga-Kolopo village outside Matala at around 02:00 on Tuesday, 5 February.
“It is alleged the unknown number of suspects, traveling in two vehicles, arrived at the filling station, hooted and upon getting no response cut the fence, broke the garage door and stole groceries, cigarettes and loaded them into the waiting vehicles,” said Col Maotshe Ngoepe, Spokesperson for the Police.
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During the process the suspects were confronted by security guards and a cross-fire ensued. Shortly afterwards the owner of the business arrived on the scene and was shot at by the fleeing suspects. “This resulted into a motor vehicle chase and a continued cross fire until one of the suspects’ motor vehicle, a Toyota Legend 45, lost control and came to a halt. One suspect fled into the nearby bushes on foot and a second was later found fatally wounded inside the car,” Ngoepe added.
The Police were summoned and a second suspect was arrested at the local taxi rank through the assistance of the community.
“The intensive search operation by the police led to the second getaway vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz, which was found abandoned a few kilometers from the crime scene after being involved in an accident. During the vehicle search groceries, a hammer and a grinder were also recovered.”
The preliminary Police investigations have revealed that one of the getaway vehicles, a Toyota Legend 45, was hijacked in the Acornhoek Policing area in the Mpumalanga Province. The second one, a Mercedes-Benz, was hijacked in the Jane Furse Policing area outside Lebowakgomo.
The arrested suspect will appear before Matlala Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of business robbery, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles, possession of suspected stolen properties and attempted murder.
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The police urged anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the remaining group of armed suspects or who sees any person with a gun shot wounds at any health facility, to contact Captain Richard Boshomane at 079 894 5501. Alternatively they can contact the 24-hour crime stop number 0860010111, the crime Line SMS 32211 or the nearest Police Station.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers has sent a stern warning to all the criminals out there that Limpopo cannot be turned into their play ground.
“The partnership Policing in this Province is in full swing and as such, those who are still perpetrating this type of crimes are not going to escape unnoticed and they will be hunted down and arrested, ” Concluded General Scheepers.
The Police investigations are still continuing, Ngoepe concluded.
