By Bev Mortimer at Kouga Chronicle
Stolen jewellery valued at R3 million was recovered by the SAPS yesterday after cops spotted the armed thieves’ vehicle on the N2 highway to PE.
The SAPS gave chase to apprehend the robbers, who robbed the Gabriël Jewellers store at Fountains Mall yesterday after smashing display glass windows and traumatising staff.
Members of the Gqeberha Flying Squad spotted a vehicle fitting the description of the getaway vehicle travelling at high speed from the direction of Jeffreys Bay towards Gqeberha.
Flying Squad members intercepted the vehicle on the freeway. A search revealed a large amount of jewellery, and the cops arrested four persons in the vehicle, aged 24-36. The cops recovered the highly valuable jewellery and arrested the four suspects plus they confiscated an illegal round of ammunition and clothing matching the exact description worn by the robbery suspects.
According to the SAPS reports yesterday, at about 10.15 am, staff at the jewellery store were assisting customers when two armed suspects entered. They threatened the occupants and ordered everyone to lie on the floor. Additional suspects then entered the shop, smashed glass display cabinets and then stole jewellery items in the store worth an estimated value of R3 million.
No shots were fired, and no one was injured. Through immediate action of first responders and the help of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, the suspects’ vehicle descriptions were circulated on local security networks and the NAVIC tracking system.
The suspects detained on the N2 are due to appear before court on charges of possession of suspected stolen property and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, commended the operational synergy and rapid response that led to the fast breakthrough. “The seamless integration of technology, real-time intelligence sharing with our security partners, and the tactical precision of the Flying Squad ensured dangerous criminals were neutralised before they could evade justice.”
Major General Kupiso praised all law enforcers involved in the successful recovery of the jewellery. The recovery of the jewellery and the removal of illegal ammunition from the streets is a significant victory, he said.
See yesterday’s update for more details: https://kougachronicle.co.za/robberies-at-fountains-mall
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