Combined efforts by various units of the police in the investigation into a number of robberies which were perpetrated in and around George recently led to a major breakthrough when the police pounced on a taxi driver who is scheduled to appear in the George Magistrates’ court on Monday, 19 April 2021.
Initial investigation reveals that four men, two armed with firearms, entered a shop at York Street on Monday, 12 April 2021 at about 19:00. They threatened the victim and proceeded to take an undisclosed amount of cash, three cellphones as well as cigarettes before they fled the scene.
A Toyota Quantum minibus taxi, believed to belong to the suspect, was later linked to this incident.
Vigilant detectives attached to the George police noticed the taxi in the central business district and followed it to Thembalethu where the driver was arrested. Further investigation later linked the suspect to a number of robberies where shops were robbed in Pacaltsdorp and Conville.
This arrest forms part of an ongoing investigation and his accomplices are yet to be arrested.
The 21-year-old suspect remains in custody. He is facing numerous robbery charges. Police also seized the taxi which was allegedly used as a getaway vehicle.
Furthermore, the police also arrested a 27-year-old suspect on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition on Friday afternoon, 16 April 2021. Members attached to the Eden Cluster Crime Combating Team, Public Order Police and George Detectives were deployed in crime ridden areas when they received a tip off of illegal activities.
They operationalised the information when the forces descended on a house at Zone 5, Thembalethu. Upon searching the house they found a 9mm round of ammunition and an imitation firearm.
This suspect remains in custody until his court appearance at the Thembalethu Magistrates’ court on 18 April 2021. The possibility that this suspect could also be linked to robberies in the Greater George is being investigated.
Eden Cluster Commander, Major General Oswald Reddy, commended the combined efforts of these forces which were deployed to bring these perpetrators to book.
