A shoot-out between alleged housebreaking thieves and police has led to the arrest of three men in Bellair, Durban, on Tuesday.
According to police, four suspects drove a white bakkie into a yard at Railway Road in Bellair after they broke a gate to gain entry.
Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said members of the community who saw the bakkie called the police “because they knew that the owner of the house was not at home at that time”.
“The police immediately responded to a housebreaking in progress and saw four suspects.
“When the suspects noticed the police, they attempted to flee whilst shooting at the police. Police retaliated and one suspect was shot on the leg. He was arrested together with other two suspects. The fourth suspect managed to escape and the police are still looking for him.”
Zwane said police recovered the bakkie which they say was loaded with stolen goods from the house, including a fridge, microwave, TV set and electric appliances.
The arrested suspects were aged between 26 and 35 would be charged with housebreaking and attempted murder.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, applauded the police for their swift response. She also praised the community for notifying the police.
“Once again, we are warning the criminals that police will not hesitate to defend themselves when they are shot at by heartless criminals,” she said.
Source: News24
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