Police arrest suspects for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms

A swift response by police in Koster resulted in the arrest and seizure of two firearms on Wednesday, 21 August 2024. Members of Visible Policing who acted on a tip-off, arrested Thompho Ravelo (25) at Reagile Township after he was found in possession of a rifle. That after he failed to account for the firearm. Upon circulating the firearm, the ownership was established, although the owner did not report it stolen.

Further probe led the police to Stephen Prinsloo (41) who was also found in possession of .22 rifle. He was also arrested for unlawful possession of firearm after failing to give a proper account for the possession. It also emerged during circulation that the firearm belongs to the same owner of the one found in possession of Ravelo.

Both suspects appeared before the Koster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 August 2024. Ravelo was remanded in custody until Monday, 28 October 2024 while, Prinsloo is expected to reappear on Monday, 26 August 2024, for formal bail application.

In a separate case in Sunrise Park, Boitekong on Tuesday, 20 August 2024, intelligence driven operation led to the arrest of a Mozambican foreign national, Samuel Feliciano (22), for armed robbery allegedly committed in April this year. He was remanded in custody upon appearance before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 August 2024. Feliciano is expected to reappear in court on Monday, 26 August 2024.

The acting District Commissioner of Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2, Brigadier Mamotsamai Ntoagae lauded all the members involved in the arrests and the recovery of the firearms, which she said were possibly going to be used to commit serious and violent crimes.