National Commissioner Khehla Sitole welcomes arrest of theft syndicate

Gauteng Police praised for breaking the back of a syndicate

The National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole has welcomed the arrest of a group of suspects and praised police in Gauteng for their efforts in breaking the back of what appears to be a theft syndicate.

This morning, following a high-speed chase and a shootout between police and suspects at around 4am, a suspect was killed and four others, including a wounded suspect, were arrested on the R21 highway near Olifantsfontein.

Members from various units of the SAPS including Crime Intelligence, Pretoria K9 Unit, SAPS Highway Patrol and private security, acting on intelligence, were looking out for suspects that were going to travel on the R21 Highway.

According to intelligence, these suspects were allegedly part of a syndicate involved in burglaries, theft of motor bikes, boats, trailers and other high value items in the Gauteng and neighbouring provinces. The team spotted a bakkie towing a trailer carrying a suspected stolen motorbike followed by an escort vehicle with foreign registration plates as identified in the intelligence.

In trying to stop the suspect vehicles, a high speed chase ensued. In the process the driver of the bakkie tried to push the police vehicles off the road by swerving into them. A shootout followed forcing the suspects’ Toyota Hilux as well as the escort vehicle to come to a halt. One suspect was killed and four suspects were subsequently arrested.

Police also recovered two firearms from the suspects and seized the bakkie as well as the escort vehicle at the scene. “This multi-disciplinary integrated approach has once again proven to be one of the most effective approaches in dealing with crime in this country”, said General Sitole.

We continue to implore on anyone who may have information on crime to contact the SAPS via the MySAPSApp or the Crime Stop 086 00 10111. Informers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strictest confidence. Together we can archive more.

Enquiries:
Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo
Spokesperson for the National Commissioner
Cell: 082 567 4153

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