A policeman was seriously injured, and a suspect killed, during a shoot-out over the weekend between police and who are believed to be members of a criminal syndicate.
On July 21, police were alerted to a meeting that was to take place at a house in Opperman Street, Extension 8.
According to information received by the police these men were meeting to plan a robbery.
The officers proceeded to said house and found 10 armed men.
The men were hostile towards the police, triggering a shootout.
One of the policemen was caught in the crossfire and shot in the thigh, shortly after which one of the armed suspects was also shot and died from his injuries on scene.
This shootout resulted in Opperman Street being closed between Gray Avenue and Van Den Heever Street for most of the day on Sunday, whilst the forensic unit collected evidence.
Police managed to arrest three suspects and recovered four firearms; an R5 rifle, a revolver and two pistols. Five stolen vehicles were also recovered (three having been stolen in Gauteng, and two having been hijacked in eMalahleni).
Middelburg Canine Unit was called in to help in the search for the remaining suspects, that fled on foot.
On Monday, July 22, another pistol was seized at Sunday’s crime scene after the arrested suspects confessed and pointed out where it had been hidden.
Police believe this syndicate, totaling 10 men, was responsible for a spate of business robberies; hitting one business on July 19, and two businesses on July 18.
The business robbery that prompted the raiding of the house in Opperman Street took place on Friday, July 19, after three suspects, one armed with a firearm, stormed into a medical practice and robbed patients of their personal belongings, including their cellphones and cash.
An off-duty police officer who was waiting for his wife outside the premises witnessed the robbery and managed to arrest two of the suspects and confiscated the firearm and a stolen cellphone in the process.
These two suspects, both aged 25 appeared in court on July 22 and were remanded in custody, with the matter postponed to July 29.
The other three suspects appeared in court on July 23.
Police are making an earnest appeal to the community to assist in tracing the outstanding suspects.
Any persons with information pertaining to the armed robbers on the run are asked to contact Colonel Solomon Thobejane at 079 891 3342 or the SAPS Crime Stop number, 08600 10111.
