Three armed robbery suspects including a 15-year-old boy were arrested, a 9mm Norinco pistol and cash was taken in the robbery was recovered by members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).
RUSA Operations Center received a call from the staff of a scrap yard on Moodley Lane in Oaklands reporting the armed robbery. On arrival, the victims explained that five individuals entered the scrap under the pretext of selling scrap metal. They were in possession of a sheet of metal and a fridge motor which they claimed they were selling.
During negotiations, one of the suspects drew a pistol and held up staff. Two other suspects were in possession of knives. The robbers stole four money packets containing notes and coins before fleeing on the scene. The victims provided Reaction Officers a clothing description and the direction in which the men had fled.
Officers cordoned off entry/exits they believed that the suspects would use to escape. Approximately 3 kilometers from the scene of the robbery, Reaction Officers noticed five individuals matching the description provided walking on an unpaved road in Hilltop near Trenance Park.
Two suspects fled into a bush while three of their accomplices were arrested. One of the men was found carrying a blue backpack. Upon searching the bag the firearm containing 8 rounds of ammunition, money, knives, cable ties and cellphones were recovered. Two leather armbands containing muthi (traditional medicine used to evade arrest) were also recovered in the bag. The serial number on the pistol was filed off. One of the suspects was confirmed to be a grade 10 learner at Temple Valley Secondary School in Verulam.
The gang is suspected of being linked to several house and business robberies in the area. The three are currently detained at the Verulam SAPS.
Grade 10 pupil arrested for business robbery in Hilltop – KZN https://t.co/muRsldR9bf#ArriveAlive #BusinessRobbery #RUSA pic.twitter.com/vMLSNSifTm
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 7, 2020