Police emergency services concentrating in hotspot areas are squeezing the space of criminals and leaving no room for criminal activities to fester in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro.
On Wednesday, 2 February 2022, members of Gqeberha Flying Squad arrested suspects and confiscated firearms in two separate incidents in Motherwell and Ikamvelihle respectively.
In the first incident, at about 11:15, Gqeberha Flying Squad members responded to a complaint of business robbery that took place at a garage in Motherwell. It is alleged that 3 males entered the shop of which two had firearms and they demanded money. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene in a white VW Polo.
The Flying Squad members immediately proceeded to a possible location and as the police members arrived at Monument crossing and Daniel Pienaar Road, the suspects’ vehicle was spotted. The members were quick to block off the fleeing vehicle and four suspects were apprehended.
Two replica 9mm firearms, an undisclosed amount of cash taken in the robbery and 5 cellphones were recovered. Four suspects aged between 20 and 38-years-old were arrested on a charge of business robbery. The VW Polo was also impounded for further investigation.
Also, at about 13:35, Flying Squad members once again arrested a 27-year-old male in possession of a stolen firearm in Ikamvelihle. It is alleged that at about 13:35, a group of about 4 males were walking in Maku Street when they were spotted by the members. When they saw the police vehicles, they started to run.
One male was arrested and found in possession of a firearm that was stolen in a cash in transit robbery in Gelvandale in July 2021. The suspect was detained for illegal possession of a firearm. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Acting Nelson Mandela District Commissioner, Brig Thandiswa Kupiso commended the sterling efforts of the members. ‘The proliferation of illegal firearms are our priority. The recovery of firearms is a direct result of increased crime prevention operations, police visibility and the efforts of our police officers to ensure that these firearms are taken out of the hands of criminal elements,’ added Brig Kupiso.
