By Augustine Ehikioya
In efforts against crimes in South Africa, Police officials have arrested two suspects in possession of hijacked vehicles.
The vehicles were suspected to be used by the suspects for robberies.
The two suspects were also found with two unlicensed firearms.
This was revealed in a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo of the South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner Gauteng. It was made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “Police officers from Crime Intelligence have been following and monitoring a gang that is suspected to be responsible for serious and violent crimes around Gauteng.
“Information was received on Thursday, 21 July, 2022, that the suspects, who are driving a Lexus, will be around Ekurhuleni, to hijack a vehicle.
“An operational team, consisting of SAPS Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit, SAPS Johannesburg K9, Gauteng Economic Crimes and Essential Infrastructure Crime Intelligence, Cap Security and Fidelity Specialized Services was activated to intercept the suspects.
“A silver Lexus was spotted travelling together with a white Golf 7, at a high speed in Kempton Park.
“The team chased the cars and a shootout ensued. Both cars were cornered and two suspects were arrested after they were found with two unlicensed firearms.”
The statement said that preliminary investigation revealed that the Lexus was affixed with a false registration plate and that it was reportedly hijacked in Kempton Park in June, 2022, while the Golf 7 had just been hijacked in the same area.
The suspects are expected to appear before Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court facing charges of car hijacking, possession of reportedly hijacked vehicles, possession of unlicensed firearms and attempted murder.
Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has commended the integrated team of law enforcement agencies following the arrest of the two suspects, aged 37 and 45 in Kempton Park on Thursday, 21 July, 2022, “after they were found with hijacked Lexus and Golf 7 that are suspected to be used as getaway cars during the commission of crimes that include cash-in-transit and business robberies.”
“I’m pleased with this collaboration of law enforcement officers. They are always a step ahead of criminals. These suspects will be profiled and firearms taken for ballistic tests, to establish if they are linked to other crimes” said Lieutenant General Mawela.