Brig Petrus van Staden, from EMPD Eastern Region Operations, conducted an operation at the intersection of First Avenue and Second Street, Geduld, with the EMPD Tracing Unit.
EMPD spokesman, Wilfred Kgasago, says this operation followed after several elderly female drivers, who had fallen victim to these suspects in Springs and surrounding areas, lodged complaints.
A woman, aged 56 years, who was robbed on Saturday pointed out the trio as the culprits who robbed her of her belongings.
The trio, believed to be responsible for the spate of this crime, was arrested at 5.30pm.
According to Kgasago 11 IDs, seven driver’s licences, several wallets and 20 bank and South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) cards were recovered.
Among the suspected stolen property found on the arrestees were handbags, lipsticks and shopping cards.
When the suspects were taken to the Springs Police Station it emerged that two of the suspects are out on parole and the third is out on bail following his arrest in the past week for a similar offence.
The three suspects aged 31, 33, and 39 years, were charged with possession of stolen property and appeared in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Monday, but the case was postponed to Friday.
The suspects will remain in Modderbee Prison.
“We advise motorists, especially elderly drivers, not to have any valuables visible in the vehicle as this makes them easy targets for this type of crime,” says Kgasago.
The Springs police urge members of the community who fell victim to recent smash-and-grab incidents to come forward.
Victims can call the investigating officer Det Cst Willemienah Moekoena on 011 365 5706 or 072 297 3882.
