POLOKWANE – Investigation leads in the case of the three ATM heists in Makgofe near BM Corner in Zone 4 Seshego recently, have been escalated to the police’s provincial organised crime unit.
Progress about the nabbing of suspects cannot at this time be shared with the public, according to the police, to protect the merits of the case and with caution of alerting the perpetrators who are on the run.
The response was followed by the need from affected residents, who say they found this rare incident in their area extremely disturbing, to receive reassurance that the matter is given the utmost priority.
In the early hours of March 31, an unknown number of armed men carried pistols and rifles into a fuel station kiosk and ordered everyone to lie down on the ground.
“These men opened an ATM (in the kiosk), and detonated the drop-in safe which caused extensive damage to the whole store and stock. The suspects then went outside and bombed two ATMs where an undisclosed amount was taken,” police spokesperson, Col Malesela Ledwaba confirmed.
Over the last weekend, it was reported that members of the SAPS Highway Patrol made a breakthrough in arresting suspects who were involved in ATM blasts at Mmotong near Seshego, Lebowakgomo and Ga Mathabatha, and that the search for others continues as some are from Gauteng and North West.
Ledwaba, however, could not confirm whether those arrested were the same persons sought for the Makgofe heist by the time of going to print.
Meanwhile, two robbery suspects (aged 36 and 49) who reside at Mokgao Park in Moletjie and Seshego respectively, appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court last Thursday for reportedly running from the police, after they demanded money and cellphones from those in a beauty salon near the city centre taxi rank in the Polokwane CBD in January.
“The suspects fled the scene with two cellphones, an iPhone and cash from the owner’s handbag,” Ledwaba said. They were nabbed after a manhunt was launched by the Polokwane police, following a tip-off about their whereabouts, he confirmed.
