POLOKWANE – Three fleeing men, one of whom was armed, were arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Welgelegen on Friday morning.
VIDEO FOOTAGE: 3 men nabbed for Welgelegen break-in
According to Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, the arrests were made in a joint effort between the crime prevention unit and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Phala said at around 08:00 on Friday morning, a 54-year-old domestic worker was working at the home in Welgelegen when two armed men entered the house and threatened her with a firearm. They tied her up and gagged her and demanded the keys to the safe, as well as cash, Phala said.
At the same time, they were joined by a third robber. “The robbers told the woman not to play games with them because they knew the house belonged to a wealthy business person. They told her she would save her own life if she gave them what they wanted as they would not hurt her then,” Phala said.
He further said the owner of the house, an elderly woman, was not at home when the incident occurred.
The three men started ransacking the house and put some household valuables including cell phones into a school bag they had with them.
The domestic worker managed to crawl to the nearest panic button and summon help, Phala said.
“The robbers must have heard something outside and fled when the private security company arrived,” he said.
Another suspect, in a white Corsa bakkie with a white canopy and black roof rack fled the scene. Phala said it was suspected that this would have been the getaway vehicle, and the police were still searching for the fourth suspect and the bakkie.
When the three men fled the scene, they did so by jumping over the neighbours’ and others’ perimeter walls. Two members of the NPA gave chase and the suspects were caught in Gen de la Rey Street, where the police effected the arrests.
Phala said one firearm, cell phones and other valuables were recovered. He said the firearm, which was in a bag, was dropped in one of the neighbours’ yards when the robbers fled.
The three men, aged 36-, 43- and 49 years, were all from Soweto and were due to appear before the Polokwane magistrate’s court later this week.
Phala urged residents who had recently been victims of robberies to come forward to participate in an identification parade.
“Our investigations continue.”
