THE Richards Bay Flying Squad and Northern Region Protection Services (NRPS) tracked a getaway vehicle’s registration number to a unit in the Hacienda Village complex in Richards Bay, but instead of armed and dangerous criminals, a mother with two children opened the door.
According to David Pretorius of NRPS, the squad was tracking down a white SLK Mercedes-Benz used in two Meerensee house robberies.
On Thursday afternoon six armed men first broke into a house in Loodvislyn and thereafter cleaned out a house in Piranha Plaat.
An eyewitness recorded the NRB number plates, which were traced to the address.
‘We were pumping adrenaline and ready for a confrontation, so we were surprised when the woman opened the door.
‘She opened her garage and showed us a similar vehicle parked inside. The number plates were obviously cloned.’
According to a neighbour of the Loodvislyn house, the gang was disturbed when he peeked over the fence. They pointed a firearm at him and fled.
The break-in was reported on the Meerensee security chat site, describing the suspects.
Members of the NRPS, the Meerensee CPF and Flying Squad blocked off exit routes and started fine-combing the streets, but while searching, the same gang hit the house in Piranha Plaat and virtually cleaned out the premises.
‘The vehicle was spotted driving around Meerensee the day prior to and the day after the robberies.
‘The Piranha Plaat owner has been targeted three times – twice this year and once last year.’
The house in Loodvislyn was empty.
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