Suspects arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and business robbery
Efforts to fight the spread of illegal firearms in the Western Cape have once again resulted in several firearms recovered and suspects arrested on Thursday, 18 March 2021.
Kraaifontein SAPS members arrested three suspects aged, 25, 32, and 34 for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition on Thursday, 18 March 2021 in Kraaifontein.
The members, attached to the Kraaifontein SAPS Crime Prevention Unit received information from crime intelligence at around 18:00 that suspected unlicensed firearms and ammunition were being transported on a long-distance passenger bus from Durban to Cape Town.
The members immediately operationalised the information and went to a filling station along the N1, direction Cape Town. When the identified passenger bus arrived, they pulled it over and thoroughly searched it. They discovered an unlicensed rifle with 21 rounds of ammunition as well as a firearm, containing seven rounds of ammunition and its serial number filed off, hidden inside a black bag. Three suspects traveling together were linked to the bag. The three suspects were arrested and detained on possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition charges at Kraaifontein SAPS. They will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court soon.
In an unrelated matter members attached to Elsies River SAPS Crime Prevention Unit recovered a loaded Zip Gun and arrested a 37-year-old man on Thursday, 18 March 2021 on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The members received information relating to possible stolen goods being stored at an address in Springbok Crescent. Upon arrival, they searched the premises and noticed someone placing an object onto the roof of the wendy house. One of the members got onto the roof and recovered a home-made gun with one round of ammunition. They arrested a 37-year-old male and once charged the suspect will appear in the Goodwood Magistrate Court on the mentioned charges.
Also in Parow on Thursday, at about 10:45, three unknown males entered a clothing store in a shopping mall. According to the manager they entered the shop pretending to be customers. They were positively armed and threatened the workers in the shop. They then attempted to take money out of the cash registers, but were disrupted by a co-worker from the shop.
The suspects then pushed all the workers to the back of the shop. Some of the security officers saw the incident and chased the suspects. The security guards arrested one suspect and recovered a firearm on the scene. A case of business robbery is being investigated.
Western Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile thanked the members for their efforts and vigilance in ensuring that they arrest those who continue to break the law and bring them to book.
Suspects arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and business robbery https://t.co/Lk7o0rRztK#ArriveAlive #UnlicensedFirearm #BusinessRobbery @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/9U52CfL8HQ
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 19, 2021
