Police and security guards from DBK Risk Management responded swiftly and arrested six suspects, recovered eight firearms soon after two retail stores were robbed and goods valued at more than R200 000-00 taken in Tshwane on Sunday 06 February 2022.
In the first incident, it is alleged that about 10 armed suspects entered a shop at Soshanguve Crossing Mall where they held employees at gunpoint and took cellphones, laptops, clothes and undisclosed amount of cash.
“Police and private security guards followed the leads and found suspects in Orchards. Suspects fired shots towards the police and a shootout ensued,” said police spokesperson Mavela Masondo.
One suspect was fatally wounded and the other two were arrested. Police recovered items suspected to have been stolen from the shop.
Masondo said in the second incident, it is alleged that about three armed suspects stormed into a shop and took about 40 new cellphones.
“Again, the team consisting of members from the South African Police Service and DBK Risk Management followed information and arrested three suspects who were found with six unlicensed firearms and more than 35 cellphones suspected to have been taken during the robbery.”
Meanwhile the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the police officers and security guards who responded promptly and arrested the suspects within a few hours after the robbery.
“I am proud of my members and security guards who worked together to arrest these alleged perpetrators that are believed to be targeting retail stores in our province. These arrests might help us to close most of the cases where retail shops were robbed,” said Lieutenant General Mawela.
Masondo added that the arrested suspects will be profiled and firearms taken for ballistic tests to establish if they are not linked to other crimes.
“Suspects will be charged with business robbery, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. More charges might be added.”
