Three men were arrested minutes after robbing a house in Observatory, after a coincidental vehicle search, Johannesburg police said on Sunday.
“It is alleged that the suspects gained entry at the house on Saturday afternoon and held the owner, a woman in her late thirties at gun point and stole jewellery and a handbag and fled the scene,” said Katlego Mogale.
As they were fleeing, they were noticed by flying squad members who were doing “stop and searches” of vehicles at the corner of Friedland and Marshall streets, she said.
The vehicle and its three male occupants, between 10 and 35 years old, were searched.
Police found two unlicensed firearms, a Rolex watch and a lady's handbag.
“A security guard who was passing by inquired from police what was going on.
They explained to him and he told the police that there had been a robbery at Frederick Street minutes earlier.”
Police took some of the jewellery to the victim who positively identified them as hers.
“She was surprised as she had not even had a chance to open a case yet.”
The men will appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate's court on Monday or Tuesday facing charges of armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms. - Sapa
