Three male suspects aged between 25 and 38 were arrested shortly after a business robbery where a vehicle was hijacked. On 19 June 2019, at about 14:45 a shop in Endlovini Street, NU29, Motherwell was robbed at gunpoint by six armed suspects.
During the robbery airtime and cash money was stolen, as well as the vehicle, a white Nissan hardbody bakkie. Two suspects drove off with the vehicle while the remaining four suspects fled on foot between the houses.
After about 30 minutes SAPS Flying Squad, assisted by SAPS K9 unit and Motherwell CPU members managed to track down (via vehicle tracker) the vehicle to a house in Cintsa Street, NU5, Motherwell. On SAPS arrival three males were noticed with the stolen bakkie. One of the suspects (28) attempted to flee from the police while still having a firearm in his hands. He was arrested a short distance away and the firearm confiscated. The other two suspects (aged 25 and 38) were also arrested at the same time.
On further searching of the premises, another hijacked vehicle was found in the garage and confiscated. The white Ford Fiesta was hijacked on 15 June at 22:00 in Ngwenyana Street, NU6, Motherwell.
The unlicensed 9mm pistol (with its serial number removed) and 17 rounds of ammunition was sent for forensic and ballistic testing.
The Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie has applauded the arrests and recovery of the vehicles and fire arm and added that “illegal firearms remains one of our main focus areas and we are urging our community to come forward with information that could assist police in getting these firearms off our streets and get the criminals using them behind bars.”
The suspects face numerous charges ranging from armed robbery, hijacking and illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and will be appearing before the Motherwell Magistrates’ Court on 21 June 2019.
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