Five suspects nabbed after a spate of robberies

Rustenburg – Five suspects, one female and four males, were arrested and detained on Friday 8 June by members of the Rustenburg cluster crime combatting unit, for the robbery of foreign national-owned shops in Phokeng, Boitekong and Rustenburg.

According to captain Elsabe Augoustides, police spokesperson, the suspects aged between 28 and 48, appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday 11 June to face charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Based on intelligence received, the police followed a charcoal Ford Ranger double cab to the Stoomhuis 2 residential area. The suspects expertly manoeuvred out of sight.

Nevertheless, the police relented and continued to search for the suspects. They eventually found the bakkie parked next to one of the corrugated iron structures in the early hours of Friday morning. The police searched the bakkie, occupants and the structure and confiscated three handguns, an air gun and 83 rounds of ammunition.

These five suspects were positively linked to a spate of armed robbery cases in and around Rustenburg, as well as in Virginia, Free State.