At about 10.30am on Friday, 5 July the wholesale dealership owner was contacted by a staff member who informed him that eight men had entered the building and forced everyone to the floor at gunpoint.
Living near the building, the owner quickly made his way there where he noticed a suspicious white Hyundai bakkie parked out front with a man in the driver’s seat. On entering the building, he became caught up in a shootout with the armed men. While he ran to a neighbouring house and took cover, the men fled on foot along Houghton Road. Following at a safe distance the owner chased the men, who tried and failed to hijack a hearse, because it was automatic. They then split up and fled in different directions.
With a description of the perpetrators, who were dressed in blue overalls, Brighton Beach SAP visible policing members, detective services branch, Umlazi dog unit and Brighton Beach cluster task team joined the owner in the search for the men.
Cst MB Luthuli, a Brighton Beach cluster task team member from Cato Manor SAP, soon noticed a man matching the description of one of the men jumping a house’s fence. Using his car, Cst Luthuli managed to corner the man as he jumped over another fence and arrested him. He was found in possession of a 9mm lorcin Pistol with the serial numbers filed off, ammunition and a magazine.
A second man was arrested by Umlazi K9 dog unit members, Csts BG Ngcobo, S Maphumulo and MG Khanyile on Sirdar Road and taken to King Edward Hospital with gunshot wounds he suffered during the shootout with the business owner. He appeared in court where bail was denied due to opposition from investigating officer, W/O Marius van der Looy. A search of the man’s home revealed various types of ammunition and magazines and a 9mm Star hand pistol, which was linked to a housebreaking in Munster Road, Bluff in July 2009.
Both firearms have been sent to the Amanzimtoti ballistics unit for testing.
The two men, aged 29 and 32, were charged with business robbery and attempted hijacking and remain in police custody while the investigation continues, including the search for remaining culprits. Brighton Beach SAP management commends all the members for their professional handling of the case, from managing the crime scene, securing the arrests to seizing the firearms.
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