Four suspects experienced the full brunt of an integrated police response team and community members when they robbed an Ethiopian Spaza shop situated in Syferfontein, an informal settlement in Pacaltsdorp yesterday, Sunday 7 February 2021 at approximately 16:50.
Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects visited the shop and purchased different amounts of prepaid airtime when one the suspects suddenly produced a firearm and threatened the owner with it, demanding cash and more airtime. They also took the CCTV camera equipment and other small items before fleeing the scene on foot.
The owner alerted the community who chased three of the suspects down the street into a field. During the chase the suspect with the firearm allegedly fires a shot at the community members, but no one was hit. Other suspects, according to community members, fled with a silver Land Rover from the scene.
Meantime police were informed of the incident and responded rapidly when they dispatched members of the Southern Cape Public Order Police (POP), Conville-and-George Crime Prevention units and Outeniqua K9, together with the Pacaltsdorp Vispol members to apprehend the suspects. Eventually they apprehended three of the suspects in the field and confiscated some of the stolen items as well as a firearm and ammunition.
Further information took the response team to a house in Zone 6, Thembalethu where they found and confiscated the Land Rover vehicle used in the business robbery. They then apprehended the fourth suspect.
The four face charges of Business Robbery and the Illegal possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. They four, all in their mid and early twenties are scheduled to make their first appearance in the George Magistrates’ court on Wednesday, 10 February 2021.
The Eden Cluster Commander Maj Gen OD Reddy who visited the scene commended the integrated response team for their swift response in apprehending the suspects. He also praised the community for their vigilance and cooperation during these arrests.
