Alleged cell phone thief sings another tune after policeman from eMalahleni interrupts his crime spree

When duty calls, there is no time to hesitate.

And it was because of the quick reaction of a Constable from Witbank SAPS that an alleged robber is now safely behind bars in Middelburg.

The constable asked to remain anonymous.

He was drawing money from an automatic teller machine in Mhluzi on Monday, September 5 when he noticed a robbery taking place in a store in Mhluzi Mall.

According to information the alleged robber and his accomplice were in a chain store in the mall robbing employees of eight cell phones at gunpoint.

It was later established that the alleged robber was using a toy gun.

Information indicates that after the suspects pointed employees with the toy gun, they allegedly broke the glass door where mobile phones were kept.

When he realised what was happening, the Constable’s instincts took over.

According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala the alleged robber then pointed the ‘firearm’ at the Constable.

The Constable did what he was trained for to protect his life and those around him.

He fired a shot, hitting the suspect in his left hand.

“The suspect dropped the ‘firearm’ and took to his heels. Unfortunately, during the squabble, a 32-year-old innocent passerby also sustained some injuries on his head but was rushed to hospital for medical attention,” Mohlala said.

Community members pursued and apprehended the suspect, that had a ‘firearm’ and he was reportedly found still in possession of the suspected stolen mobile phones.

It is said that in the process of his apprehension, he sustained some injuries in the hands of community members but was later rescued by a community police forum member.

Members of the police from Mhluzi were summoned to the scene and the suspect was arrested and then taken to hospital for medical treatment as well.

He is facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen properties and could possibly be linked to the business robbery.

The Independence Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) was notified about the incident and they will conduct their own probe into the shooting.

The other suspect, who earlier vanished into thin air when his partner got arrested, was also cornered and arrested the following day on September 6 after members of the community informed police that they spotted him in the mall.

The 22-year-old male suspect was charged with business robbery and appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court today on September 7, alongside the injured suspect, that faces the same charges but with an additional charge of possession of suspected stolen properties.

Police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the two to other criminal activities committed elsewhere where more charges against them are expected as the investigation continues.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela appreciated the commitment displayed by the off-duty member and thanked members of the public for not folding their arms when they saw a crime being committed in front of their eyes.

“We pride ourselves in the calibre and bravery of police officials like this one who, amid immediate danger, placed his life at risk for the sake of members of the public. Two days back we just honoured men and women in blue who, in the past year paid the ultimate price. This should send a strong message to criminals that the SAPS will continue to dismantle their operations from every corner without fear or favour” said the general.

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