A 45-year-old guy was apprehended shortly after a robbery was reported at a chain store in Carolina, Mpumalanga.
Colonel Donald Mdhluli, a regional police spokesperson, confirmed that the crime occurred on Tuesday.
According to reports, four individuals held store employees at gunpoint while taking cash, telephones, and other things from the store. “The fifth suspect was allegedly waiting inside a gateway vehicle,” he stated.
“After they completed their criminal activities, they all stormed into the vehicle, a grey Volkswagen Polo, then fled the scene.”
The White River flying squad, White River K9 team, a car tracking business, and private security agencies were all involved in the chase of the criminals.
The vehicle was later discovered near Nelspruit, where the suspected robbers attempted to flee capture.
“Police and other law enforcement officials were right on their heels. It was at this point that the vehicle traveled to Mataffin in Mbombela, collided with a brick wall, and came to a stop,” Mdhluli explained.
It is also claimed that the accused attempted to fire shots at law enforcement agents, but their efforts were in vain.
“One suspect was hurt during the procedure, and the other four fled the area in order to avoid arrest. Mdhluli stated that the injured suspect was charged appropriately, despite the fact that he is still under police guard in the hospital.
Further inquiry has found that the criminals’ vehicle was purportedly stolen during a house robbery in Modimolle, Limpopo province, earlier this month.
“Police are currently doing their best to locate the other suspects,” she said.
The injured suspect is likely to appear in Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon on accusations of attempted murder and possession of suspected stolen property, which includes the vehicle and items taken during the Carolina business robbery.
He is also scheduled to appear in Carolina Magistrate’s Court on allegations of commercial robbery.
“Police cannot rule out possibilities of additional charges (being) laid against the suspect as the investigation continues, including the house robbery in Modimolle, pending the investigation,” according to Mdhluli.
Meanwhile, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, has praised the various law enforcement authorities’ quick response.
