SAPS ARREST A SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN BUSINESS ROBBERY, MANHUNT LAUNCHED FOR OTHER SUSPECTS
Nelspruit – 05 January 2022: Police in Calcutta arrested a 28-year-old man alleged to have been involved in a business robbery at a post office in Ximhungwe near Bushbuckridge. The robbery incident took place yesterday on Tuesday, 04 January 2022 at about 10h40 am.
According to the information at police disposal, employees at the said post office were on duty when a group of about 10 armed men pounced on them. Some of the suspects reportedly came inside whilst others remained outside and everyone was held hostage by the suspects. They (suspects) then ordered all of them to lie down and forced one of the employees to open a safe.
It is said that during the whole ordeal, shots were randomly fired around the post office thereby causing panic. The suspects then took an undisclosed amount of cash before they fired more shots as they fled from the scene using three motor vehicles, a grey BMW, white VW Polo and a white Ford Ranger with false registration number plates.
Police were notified about the incident and immediately launched a manhunt for the suspects. They managed to arrest one suspect who was driving a BMW motor vehicle at Ronaldsey also in possession of a firearm with a serial number filed off.
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Police further managed to locate the Ford Ranger after it crashed at Kildare Trust near a Secondary School. Preliminary investigation also unearthed that the Ford Ranger was hijacked at Masoyi near White River. The vehicle was seized and the firearm will be sent for ballistic testing.
The arrested suspect is in police custody and police are still continuing with their investigation with anticipation to make more arrests. The man will appear at the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court soon.
Police urged anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact Detective Lieutenant Colonel Duduzile Shabangu at 0824692569 or Detective Captain Prince Mokoena on 0823199843. Alternatively, members of the public call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
