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Suspect arrested for spate of robberies at student accommodation in Universitas, Bloemfontein

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sempe welcomed the infiltration and arrest of suspects believed to have been terrorizing and robbing students in the Universitas area, Bloemfontein. “Any suspect who shall attempt to threaten the life of a police officer in the execution of his or her duty or a law-abiding citizen, such act shall be met with an equivalent action within the law”, he added.

A case of murder has been registered and will be investigated by Ipid and two other cases of house robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm will be investigated by the Provincial Trio Task team.

On 04 May 2018 at about 22:07, the complainant was with his friends at a student commune in Stegmann street Universitas when they were pounced on by three armed men suddenly three unknown and ordered to lie down.  The suspects took two laptops that was in the kitchen, then went into the bedroom of another student and took two more laptops and a Vodafone cellphone.

As they were about to leave they came another student coming out of his room and they robbed him of two more laptops and a Samsung J7 cellphone and fled the scene. The Provincial Trio task team and the Tracking team who were already following up on a number of house robberies involving students, followed an intelligent led information to a house in JB Mafora. Just after 23:00 suspects were traced and found in a house where one of them stays. On arrival, one of the suspects pulled out a firearm and the police reacted by firing a shot which fatally wounded the suspect. One suspect (31) was arrested and the third one who is known fled the scene. The suspected stolen property and a 9mm were found and confiscated.

The arrested suspect will appear in court on charges of house robbery and possession of a firearm. The team is still on the lookout for the third suspect.

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