POLICE OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE AMONGST SEVEN SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR BUSINESS ROBBERY AT FILLING STATION
POLOKWANE- The swift and appropriate response from members of the Trio Task Team in the Vhembe District led to the apprehension of seven suspects, including a Warrant Officer and a female employee, after they allegedly robbed a convenient store at a filling station along the N1 road next to the Capricorn Plaza under Bandelierkop policing area in the early hours of Monday morning, 05 December 2022.
A group of suspects entered the premises at about 03:00 and held the staff at gunpoint. They thereafter fled the scene with a drop-in safe containing undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes in a white Toyota bakkie and Toyota Corolla Quest.
The Police were quick to respond to the incident and a well coordinated and intelligence driven operation was conducted which led to the arrest of the seven suspects at different locations today.
The 36 year old female employee of the filling station was arrested at her workplace. Further probe implicated more suspects and the 52 year old Police Warrant Officer attached to Makhado Crime Intelligence Unit, was apprehended at his work place. The rest of the suspects were arrested at their homes in Shayadima location and Mphephu.
During the arrest police recovered the following items which were positively linked to the robbery; Drop-in safe, packets of cigarettes of various brands, Toyota corolla quest and Toyota hilux bakkie.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has louded the excellent investigation conducted by members of this Team which led to the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the robbed items.
“These prompt arrests should send a clear message that as we continue to put more boots on the ground for safer festive season, the Police will be relentless in bringing all perpetrators to book, regardless of their statuses”, concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The seven suspects, aged between 36 and 52, are expected to appear before the Louisetrichard
Magistrate’s Court soon facing charges of business robbery and possession of suspected stolen properties.
