Chase leads to four arrests
Four men suspected of involvement in a series of local house burglaries were apprehended near Ashton Lake at Anchor and Ermelo roads after a dramatic police chase resulted in their arrest on Wednesday afternoon.
Four men were arrested on Wednesday afternoon along Anchor and Ermelo roads near Ashton Lake following their alleged involvement in a string of burglaries in the Springs area.
The arrests unfolded after a silver Ford Figo, with registration number KM 75 ZD GP, was captured on CCTV footage on July 22 along Van Aardt Street in Selection Park.
Springs SAPS communication officer Sergeant Themba Tshabalala said according to the footage, the four men were spotted entering a property with the vehicle and stealing various items after breaking into the house.
“On the day of the arrest, a Blue Hawk security officer spotted the suspects’ vehicle with four occupants and immediately recognised it from a BOLO (be on the lookout) alert,” said Tshabalala.
“The officer began tailing the vehicle and called for backup. A police officer en route to another house robbery scene swiftly joined forces with other private security officers to chase after the suspects.”
Tshabalala said during the chase, one man was seen brandishing a firearm towards the pursuing vehicles.
“The officers tried to stop the speeding vehicle as the driver was driving recklessly, almost hitting other vehicles on the road.”
He added the men headed towards Endicott on Ermelo Road, attempted a U-turn at Anchor Road, and collided with a security vehicle.
The men then attempted to flee towards Springs, nearly colliding with an EMPD vehicle and officers who were conducting a vehicle checkpoint.
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“Multiple shots were fired from the security vehicles to halt the men’s escape, bringing their vehicle eventually to a stop.”
During the arrest, the officers discovered three of the men had sustained injuries: one was shot in the abdomen, another was grazed by a bullet on the head, and a third was wounded in the left ankle.
All four men were taken into custody, with three getting medical attention at a nearby hospital. Police confiscated tools consistent with those seen in the house burglary footage, along with a handgun and keys.
The men were charged with assaulting a police officer, three counts of burglary and attempted murder.
