Trapped robbers off to court
Big blunder by suspects who flee head-on into trouble
FIVE notorious robbery suspects who on Tuesday found themselves trapped and surrounded by police on Pelican Island following a shootout on the John Ross Parkway, could not have chosen a worse day to break the law.
Trying to flee a police chase, they drove right into the area where a multi-disciplinary emergency drill was taking place and the scene was swarming with police and other uniformed personnel.
The accused, aged between 26 and 36, are appearing in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday) on charges including possession of housebreaking implements and housebreaking.
‘We cannot yet reveal all the charges as we are still busy linking fingerprints to other reported crimes,’ Richards Bay SAPS spokesperson Captain Debbie Ferreira said on Wednesday.
Ferreira explained the suspects were first spotted by a member of the police who was driving in Veldenvlei when he noticed the men leaping over a wall and jumping into a black Polo on Buttercup Cord street.
The policeman called for backup and the Operational Response Services (ORS) set up a road block on the John Ross Parkway.
When the reported vehicle ignored the checkpoint, a dramatic chase ensued at 10.15am involving the Richards Bay SAPS, ORS, the Empangeni K9 Unit and the uMhlathuze Traffic Department.
‘The vehicle was found abandoned near the Bay Hall and the K9 Unit arrested the men hiding in the bush on Pelican Island,’ said Ferreira.
‘We applaud the outstanding police action and commendable teamwork by all the men and women involved in finding and apprehending the suspects.’
