Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) have arrested the leader of a gang responsible for an armed robbery at a used spare parts business in Hazelmere. The suspects, wanted by Verulam SAPS under case number CAS 348/06/2025, allegedly held up two nightshift employees and looted the premises last night (Friday).
According to RUSA, the Operations Center received a distress call at approximately 07:02 this morning (Saturday) from employees at the business. Upon arrival, officers discovered that six armed robbers had attacked the nightshift workers at around 20:00 on Friday. The assailants, their faces covered, tied up the victims at gunpoint using belts and shoelaces to bind their hands and feet. Shockingly, the robbers then stacked used vehicle bumpers and body parts on top of the employees before fleeing. The victims were found 11 hours later in the same position by dayshift staff.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had stolen mag rims, power tools, vehicle body parts, and other items worth hundreds of thousands of rand during the overnight heist.
A RUSA tracking team later identified the gang leader as a Mozambican national who had entered South Africa from Maputo two years ago. Surprisingly, the suspect was employed at the same company he allegedly robbed and had concealed his face during the crime.
Following intelligence leads, Reaction Officers recovered stolen goods from multiple locations, including a residence near Hazelmere Dam where some items were found hidden under a bed (see Picture 12). The suspect was arrested in possession of stolen property and reportedly confessed that his accomplices had fled the area.
Authorities are continuing investigations to apprehend the remaining suspects.
