POLOKWANE -In Mankweng outside Polokwane, the police conducted an intelligence led joint operation that was comprised of the Mankweng Tracking Team Unit and the Crime Intelligence Unit. The joint operation traced a man which was linked to the stealing of a white Toyota Tazz which in Botlokwa outside Mankweng in August. The vehicle was traced and found parked next to the 29-year-old accused’s rented room in Mankweng Unit E and he was immediately apprehended. Police continued with the investigations inside the rented room and various stolen goods and a 9mm pistol and ammunition were found. Preliminary police investigations revealed that the recovered firearm was stolen in the Mankweng Policing area in October and the recovered goods were stolen during various of burglary residential incidents around Mankweng and Tzaneen Policing precincts.
The accused was also linked to business robbery case in Mankweng and is expected to appear in the Mankweng Magistrate’s court soon on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, business robbery, possession of suspected stolen properties, burglary residential and theft of motor vehicle.
In Modjadjiskloof a 32-year-old man, sought for house robbery, was arrested by the Modjadjiskloof Police outside Tzaneen during an intelligence led joint operation comprising Modjadjiskloof Detectives and the Tzaneen Tracking Team while in his hideout in the bushes. Three more people involved in this case were identified and were traced to a house in Ga-Kgapane township outside Modjadjiskloof. Upon arrival, all three people managed to evade arrest on foot but the search conducted inside the house in their absence led to the recovery of the following items: 9mm pistol with 48 live ammunition, a bag with Nikon camera, grinder, drilling machine, four alarm batteries, security uniforms, shox wireless speakers, ladies Adidas tekkies, white all star tekkies, a pair of handcuffs. a revolver holster, red and white extension cord and spanners.
Preliminary police investigations linked the recovered firearm with Modjadjiskloof business robbery and it is suspected that the suspects might be linked to a series of serious and violent crimes around the Tzaneen Cluster. The suspect is expected to appear before Modjadjiskloof Magistrate’s court soon on charges of house robbery.
Investigations still continue with a possibility of linking the suspect with the recovered items. Police have launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects.
Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of these suspects, may contact Capt Richard Makhukhu at 082 414 2736 or the crime stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba has commended these teams of operational units on the exceptional work which will ensure that criminals don’t find space to operate during this festive season across the province.
