BOTSHABELO – The Police Crime Combating Task Team deployed in eastern Mangaung Metro police stations foiled an armed business robbery in the Botshabelo Industrial Area in the early hours of Wednesday, 26 November. The police foiled the armed business robbery after receiving intelligence-driven information.
Prompt action has culminated with the arrest of five African men, aged between 29 and 38. They are expected to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrates Court soon this week.
“Intelligence was received that bonuses will be paid to employees on specific dates and a group of robbers started circling around targeted businesses,” says Lt Col Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the Free State police in the Mangaung Metro. He says preliminary findings revealed the suspects were linked to a house robbery in Botshabelo.
The suspects were also positively linked to a house robbery which happened in Section E, Botshabelo, where victims were robbed of their cellular telephones, laptops, and car keys.
Covane says the Crime Combating Task Team members spotted the suspects. They were travelling in a red Fiat Punto near the industrial area. He says the suspects were heavily armed with firearms, knives, and tools.
“The suspects were pulled over tactically near the Botshabelo Traffic Department en route to the industrial area. Upon searching the five African males and the motor vehicle, the officers seized three 9mm pistols with filed-off serial numbers; two butcher knives, a chisel, pliers, balaclavas, industrial gloves and surgical masks,” says Covane. He says the suspects will face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and housebreaking implements.
They are expected to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrates’ Court this week. Police are investigating the suspects’ possible involvement in other crimes. This follows their link to an armed house robbery in Section E.
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