The intelligence led joint operations in Limpopo have made a major breakthrough in two separate cases of ATM bombing and business robbery which recently occurred in the Dennilton Policing area and Maake Policing area. The prompt and sterling investigations conducted by these teams led to the arrest of eleven suspects.
The Police were notified soon after these incidents and subsequently, put into place the 72 hour activation plan, which resulted in the initial arrest of six suspects aged between 24 and 39 in the Dennilton Policing area. This after a group of heavily armed suspects stormed into one of the supermarkets at the local shopping mall on 1 April 2019 at around 06:10.
The suspects threatened cashiers and customers before bombing an ATM.
They then fled from the scene after taking an undisclosed amount of money. During the manhunt operation, one of the vehicles used by these criminals was later found abandoned a few kilometres from the crime scene in the area. The suspects were apprehended at different locations in Masemola, Zebediela, Marble Hall and Matlerekeng areas.
In the process, two firearms and 19 round of ammunition, explosives, burnt cash canisters, and a double cab bakkie were recovered. Preliminary Police investigations revealed that three of the suspects were out on bail for previously committing similar offences.
Meanwhile in the Maake Policing area outside Tzaneen, five suspects aged between 23 and 42 were arrested following a robbery which occurred at one of the shops in the Maake plaza. It is alleged that on 4 April 2019, at about 07:15, an unknown group of armed suspects attacked the employees at this shop while they were about to open for customers.
In the process, the suspects got away with an undisclosed amount of money using a Toyota Quantum. The suspects were arrested within few hours at the De-Oaks village which is about 60 kilometres from the crime scene. During the arrest, the Police recovered two rifles including an AK 47, one 9mm pistol, the getaway vehicle and cash believed to be part of the robbed money.
The origin of all the recovered items during these operations will be determined by ongoing Police investigations.
The arrested suspects will appear before different Magistrate Courts soon.
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