Teenager arrested with stolen firearm in Verulam

An 18-year-old boy was arrested and a firearm that was taken in a robbery was recovered in a coordinated operation between members of Reaction Unit South Africa and the Verulam SAPS during the early parts of this morning.

Three suspects were being sought for two robberies that occurred in the Verulam area over the weekend. On Friday afternoon two Security Officers stationed at a reservoir in Dawncrest were robbed of their company issue revolvers.

On Saturday night a tuck shop on Maple Drive in Trenance Park was held up by three suspects and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash, cigarettes and a Hisense cellphone. All three suspects were armed with firearms and were believed to be linked to both incidents.

This morning intelligence reports confirmed the location of one suspect. At approximately 02:00 the Rapid Response Unit consisting of Reaction Officers & the Verulam SAPS as well as SAPS Detectives & Crime Intelligence Officers proceeded to an informal settlement on Hilltop Drive in Inanda where two houses were identified as the location where the suspects were hiding out.

With the cover of darkness, Officers converged on the two properties and simultaneously penetrated both homes. The teenager was found asleep in a wood and iron home. A Taurus revolver was recovered under his pillow. Three live rounds of ammunition and two spent cartridges were recovered in the cylinder of the weapon. No suspects were found in the second home.

The teenager was placed under arrest and has been detained at the Verulam SAPS.