Western Cape Flying Squad members strategically deployed responded with haste to reports of unknown suspects who had just committed a business robbery in Stellenbosch on Friday morning 12 March 2021. The armed suspects in a vehicle had fled the scene with cash and stolen goods.
In a shack in Mfuleni, Flying Squad police caught up with the seven suspects and arrested them.
Detailed reports from the business robbery scene indicate that several suspects, some dressed in police uniform entered a supermarket in Bird Street in Stellenbosch at about 8:45 on the pretext of searching the business for drugs. When the owner became suspicious and demanded answers, the suspects allegedly assaulted the owners, threatened staff and made off with boxes of cigarettes as well as R90 000-00 in cash.
In the getaway vehicle the suspects drove at a high speed towards Mfuleni. Western Cape Flying Squad members followed in search of the vehicle. Within a few hours they had apprehended seven suspects in a shack in Mfuleni.
Cash, boxes of cigarettes and three firearms, one reportedly stolen in Claremont in 2018, were seized. The arrested suspects, aged between 30 and 59 will appear in court on Monday on charges of business robbery, illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and stolen property as well as impersonating police officials.
The swift response of the Flying Squad team that led to the apprehension of the suspects as well as the retrieval of the stolen property and illegal firearms is applauded. Western Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile hailed the prompt response of the team that led to the arrest of the armed suspects posing as police officials.
“If these criminals were not apprehended they would have committed more crimes. What follows is for police to ensure they face the full might of the law”, says Major General Patekile.
