FOUR attempted house robbery suspects were arrested by members of the Umzinto K9 Unit in Umkomaas following a high speed chase along the N2 freeway last Friday.
A Toyota Corolla as well as jewellery, tools, a crowbar, cosmetics, gloves and a flat-screen plasma television set, all thought to be stolen property, were seized by police. The suspects have been detained and are expected to appear in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Tuesday, 17 June.
An alert and concerned Pennington resident contacted the Pennington Sector Commander, Warrant Officer Deena Govender of the Scottburgh SAPS and informed him of a burglary in progress at a house in Elizabeth Avenue.
Warrant Officer Govender, accompanied by his colleague Sergeant Christopher Mahlawe, were at the scene within minutes. The suspects had fled before their arrival and they interviewed the 37-year-old complainant. The officers obtained a detailed description of the suspects and their getaway vehicle and had it immediately circulated on the SAPS radio communication channel.
It is alleged that the woman was alone at home when she heard the dogs barking. She looked out the window and saw three men on her premises, one of whom was carrying a crowbar. A Toyota Corolla was parked outside the gate, which was standing open.
The woman banged on the window to scare the men off. One of them drew a firearm and pointed it at her before all the men ran out of the gate and fled in the car. These three suspects had attempted to force their way into the house while the fourth, who was the driver, remained seated in the car.
It was later established that the padlock on the gate had been cut open and attempts had been made to force open the security gate at the front door.
Sergeant Mxolisi Mnyandu and Constable Preshaan Ishwarlal of the Umzinto K9 Unit were among the members who heard the description of the wanted suspects and their vehicle. They were at the Park Rynie off-ramp when they noticed a Toyota Corolla fitting the description of the car being sought travelling north on the N2 freeway.
They immediately gave chase and signaled for the suspects to pull over. The driver disregarded the police blue lights, siren and police efforts to stop them and tried to speed away.
Constable Ishwarlal radioed for backup and more members of the K9 Unit, Scottburgh SAPS and the Park Rynie Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) joined in the chase and the suspects were stopped at the Umkomaas off-ramp. Police found two wardrobe drawers containing an assortment of items as well as the TV on the rear seat of the car.
