Polisie Fnuik Transito-Roof Op Oos-Rand

Polisie Fnuik Transito-Roof Op Oos-Rand

June 13, 2014 - Ander Bronne, Sentraal-Transvaal Nuus - Sleutelwoorde: Birch Acres, Gewapende Rowers, Kemptonpark, Polisie, SBV Wagte, Transito-Rooftog, Winkelsentrum - Geen reaksie

KEMPTONPARK – Die Birch Acres Mall naby Tembisa was gisteroggend in ‘n staat van beleg toe polisie die poging tot ‘n transitorooftog gefnuik het. Sekuriteitswagte van SBV is deur ‘n groep van sowat tien gewapende rowers aangeval binne-in die sentrum. ‘n Wilde skietgeveg tussen die polisie en die verdagtes het gevolg en een van die wagte is op die ken beseer.

Een van die rowers het beserings aan sy knie opgedoen, het Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini, die Sentraal-Transvaalse polisiewoordvoerder, gesê. Twee van die rowers is in hegtenis geneem. Die soektog na nog verdagtes duur voort.

Volgens wat vroeër berig is sou die rowers ook gyselaars geneem het, maar dit kon nie bevestig word nie.
Die ingang na die sentgrum is deur die polisie afgesper en alhoewel die winkelsentrum nie gesluit is nie, het baie nuuskieriges saamgedrom.

Volgens een van die ooggetuies, het hy die harde slae van geweerskote gehoor waar hy by die deur van die klerewinkel waar hy werk besig was. “Ek was geskok en het nie geweet wat om te doen nie maar ek het probeer om kalm te bly, terwyl ek probeer het om te sien waar die skote afgevuur is. Dit is toe ek vier manne van SBV op die grond gesien lê het.

“Ek het toe weggehardloop en nog ‘n SBV wag gesien wat op die telefoon besig was om vas te stel wat met sy kollegas gebeur het, ” het die ooggetuie gesê. Die ingang na die Mall was bewaak deur polisie- en private sekuriteitsbeamptes, wat alle toegang versper en verhinder het.

Forensiese ondersoekbeamptes op die toneel was vir ure daarna nog op soek na leidrade.

Die Sentrum-bestuurder, Sarah Kubey, gesê dat die sentrum gesluit sal bly vanaf 08:00 tot 15:00.
Dinge was teen gistermiddag weer terug na normaal, aldus die bestuurder..

‘n Ongelisensieerde vuurwapen, sowel as ‘n motor wat gebruik sou word om te ontvlug en wat in Midrand gesteel is, is op die terrein gevind. “‘n 9mm Pistool en twee vuurwapens wat die mans van ‘n wag geroof het, is teruggevind,” het Dlamini gesê.

Hy het gesê die polisie is steeds op die uitkyk vir die ander verdagtes, die getal tussen ses en sewe sou wees.

Die sukses van die polisie se aksie het gevolg na die arrestasie van een van die land se mees gesoekte misdadigers verlede Donderdag, wat na bewering in besit was van meer as 300 gewere, ammunisie en plofstof by sy huis in Norwood, Johannesburg. – City Press

A group of around ten people attacked SBV security guards inside the mall. A shootout between police and the suspects followed, leaving a guard injured on the chin. One suspect sustained injuries to his knee, Gauteng police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said.

Two suspects were arrested. The search for other suspects continues.
Reports yesterday suggested the robbers might have taken hostages, but this could not be confirmed. Police cordoned off the entrance to the mall before 9am. The mall was temporarily closed, but curious onlookers surrounded the centre.

A visibly shocked Sipho Silangwe recalled witnessing the attempted robbery.

Speaking to Saturday Citizen yesterday, Silangwe said he was about to unlock the door of the clothing store where he works in the mall when he heard the loud report of gunshots.

“I was confused and did not know what to do. But I tried to remain calm, as I was trying to see where the gunshots were being fired from. That is when I saw four men from SBV lying on the ground. “I then ran away and came across another SBV official. He was on the phone, trying to establish what was happening with his colleagues,” Silangwe said.

The entrance to the mall had been manned by police officers and private security officers, who would not allow anyone access.
Forensic investigators were on the scene for hours looking for clues.
Centre manager Sarah Kubey said the mall was closed from 8am until 3pm. “Things are now back to normal,” she said yesterday afternoon. Dlamini said one unlicensed firearm was recovered, as well as a getaway car that was stolen in Midrand.“A 9mm pistol and two firearms that the men took from a guard were recovered,” said Dlamini.
He said police were still on the look-out for the other suspects, thought to number between six and seven.
The news of the police’s success followed the arrest of one of the country’s most wanted criminals on Thursday, who was allegedly in possession of more than 300 guns, ammunition and explosives at his home in Norwood. – City Press