-Edited by Bev Mortimer- A man and his wife watching TV in their house in the Humansdorp area last night at about 10.30 pm were suddenly confronted by three armed men who had broken broken into their home near a farm.
The three men then pointed fire arms at the couple, tied them with cable ties, locked the husband, aged 64, in a bathroom and his wife in the lounge, and then ransacked the house. The three then made off off with household items, electronic equipment a firearm and a Toyota Fortuner.
The husband had been assaulted but not seriously. When the suspects left, the husband managed to free himself and his wife and the couple then rowed by boat to a neighbouring farm to get help.
The SAPS was alerted and the Toyota Fortuner was flagged. Info was soon received that the the vehicle was heading towards Gqeberha followed by a VW Citi Golf. The Toyota was then found abandoned near Thornhill with all its contents taken.
Just before 1 am this morning, 16 October, Gqeberha Flying squad members spotted the Citi Golf on the R102 near Kruisrivier heading towards Kariega. The vehicle was forced off the road and four suspects (three men and one woman) were arrested. Three firearms were recovered, and all the stolen goods were found in the Golf.
The suspects aged 35-64 years old are detained on charges of illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property. Additional charges of house robbery will be included after detectives ascertain their link to the house robbery case.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Maj Gen Zolani Xawuka, praised the excellent collaboration between police members that resulted in the speedy arrest of the four suspects allegedly involved in a house robbery last night, 15 October in Humansdorp. he also applauded the excellent co-ordination between various police stations (Humansdorp, Thornhill and Uitenhage) and the Flying Squad members.
“The teamwork and dedication executed by our police officials was at the forefront of our success,” he said. “Their quick thinking and efficient responses undoubtedly led to the arrest of the criminals. Criminals are warned that our police officials are not asleep and that they will be arrested for their crimes,” Xawuka added.
