By Kaya 959 Reporter
Three suspects were shot dead and two more were arrested in a heated gun battle in Gauteng on Wednesday.
“An intelligence-driven operation was conducted by the Hawks’ Tactical Operational Management Section. They were assisted by Tracker Connect, Gauteng Crime Intelligence, SAPS Highway Patrol, GTP Saturation Unit, ICB Insurance Crime Bureau and Badboyz Security in Roodepoort. The team was searching for hijacking suspects who are targeting VW Polo vehicles,” says Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
He says the team intercepted the gang on the side of the road immediately after they allegedly hijacked a Polo.
As the members approached the suspects, the suspects greeted them with a hail of bullets which led to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in three suspects fatally wounded,” he says.
Police arrested two suspects, aged between 25 and 30. Officers rescued the injured owner of the Polo, who was held in the vehicle.
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Suspects charged with several crimes
Nkwalase says emergency officials took the owner to the hospital for medical attention. Officers recovered three firearms with ammunition, cellphones, and heavy-duty gloves.
“The suspects will be charged with murder, attempted murder, carjacking, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear in Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Preliminary investigation revealed suspects are also linked to more than 18 hijacking cases committed in the Gauteng areas,” he says.
He adds that the syndicate was reportedly using a Golf GTi during the commission of crime whilst on previous occasions they have been using a Toyota Corolla.
In a separate operation in Gauteng, police arrested four suspects and recovered a cache of cellphones taken during a robbery at the Mall of the South.
“Police officers from Highway Patrol Unit were on routine patrol when they received information about cellphones, taken during a robbery perpetrated at Mall Of The South in November this year,” says Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.
He says police searched a shop in Small Street where they found the cellphones in a box.
The men have since appeared in court and investigations are ongoing.
ALSO READ: Police arrest gang wanted for courier van hijackings



