Five armed robbers, aged between 30 and 34, were arrested by police on Tuesday after robbing the local supermarket in the Muswodi settlement near Thohoyandou in Limpopo. They were arrested after the police pursued them in a chase.
Brig. Police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo said police in Muswodi received information about the armed robbery in the local supermarket. Five suspects allegedly stole cash, airtime certificates, cell phones and a Nissan vehicle from one of the customers. They then fled from the supermarket with the stolen goods.
After receiving the information, the police immediately took action and detained the suspects. The suspects allegedly left the stolen vehicle along the road and got into another vehicle, a Hyundai i10. The suspects rushed in the direction of the Matashe-Vhufuli intersection.
Thohoyandou police, meanwhile, have blocked the suspects’ road in the direction of this intersection. The suspects alerted the police and tried to force the vehicle in another direction. The driver lost control of the vehicle and the car ended up in the shrubs along the road.
Mojapelo said the suspects then jumped out of the vehicle and tried to flee in another direction. They started shooting at the police at the same time and the police fired back. The suspects were arrested just after.
Police seized the money, cell phones, two firearms and ammunition as well as airtime certificates.
Lt. Genl. Limpopo provincial commissioner Nneke Ledwaba commended the members of the police for their good work and prompt action to arrest the culprits.
The five suspects may also be linked to other serious crimes in and around Thohoyandou.
They will soon appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on charges of business robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as possession of a stolen vehicle.
