Rubberpigg
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March 17 2015 at 07:41am
By Junior Bester
Cape Town - Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and residents of Durbanville are hailing what they believe is a breakthrough in the crowbar gang case, although police are being tightlipped.
On Monday, six people were arrested, three as they were ransacking a house in Kenridge.
The arrests were made in Durbanville when a tracker company following a hijacked vehicle alerted police to its whereabouts.
Flying Squad members arrived at Franschhoek Street in Kenridge where they found a white Golf GTI parked in an open garage, a domestic worker tied up and three suspects in the house with a firearm.
Three more armed suspects were arrested in a bakkie nearby.
Although police said they could not confirm that the men were linked to the crowbar gang, Plato said on Monday: “I welcome any arrest, but particularly this one as this gang has been terrorising the community for quite some time. This group has operated like a syndicate and they know just when to strike…”
Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said the three suspects on the Franschoek Street premises had a firearm, and stolen property worth R75 000 was recovered.
The three suspects arrested in the rented bakkie with a firearm “moved with the other three suspects”.
Kinana said the suspects would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on numerous charges including house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a hijacked vehicle.
“This office cannot confirm whether these incidents are linked to the crowbar gang at this stage. The investigation is continuing.”
Since 2013 the gang has been using crowbars to break into houses across the city.
Plato said: “Previously there were no breakthroughs with this case. It has been a top priority for police since the first attacks. So making six arrests now is a massive breakthrough for the police…”
The police were assisted in the arrest by members of CN Security Installations, a private security company.
Stephen Swartz, the company’s response supervisor, said: “When we arrived, police were about to apprehend the five suspects so we just made sure that they got all the support they needed. There were about six vehicles from the Flying Squad and they quickly surrounded the suspects in the white GTI and the bakkie.”
Meanwhile, reports emerging from Kuils River via Facebook were of a man who was shot dead while trying to break into a house on Aloe Street.
Lowellan West posted: “One of the homeowners was in his house while the Crowbar gang tried to break in Aloe Str. Needless to say he walked into a firearm and died on the scene. The others left in a hurry leaving their vehicle and the deceased behind.”
Police declined to confirm this.
Comments from the Kendal Road Community Facebook page:
Bev Hardy: “Fantastic news, well done! It will be even better if they don’t get released to carry on with their activities, sadly they do”
Catherine Ann Roomes: “Great but they will be out tomorrow doing the same damage!!!”
Stuart Grobbelaar: “Hope they are charged. To often an owner doesn’t feel the need to even visit the police station and lay charges, which means they’re often kept overnight and let out the next day.”
Izak BokforLife Du Plessis: “Job well done! Proud of those involved.”
Johan Badenhorst: “Excellent work, SAPS and all those involved!”
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/crowbar-gang-breakthrough-1.1832823#.VQfylY4XcXg
By Junior Bester
Cape Town - Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and residents of Durbanville are hailing what they believe is a breakthrough in the crowbar gang case, although police are being tightlipped.
On Monday, six people were arrested, three as they were ransacking a house in Kenridge.
The arrests were made in Durbanville when a tracker company following a hijacked vehicle alerted police to its whereabouts.
Flying Squad members arrived at Franschhoek Street in Kenridge where they found a white Golf GTI parked in an open garage, a domestic worker tied up and three suspects in the house with a firearm.
Three more armed suspects were arrested in a bakkie nearby.
Although police said they could not confirm that the men were linked to the crowbar gang, Plato said on Monday: “I welcome any arrest, but particularly this one as this gang has been terrorising the community for quite some time. This group has operated like a syndicate and they know just when to strike…”
Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said the three suspects on the Franschoek Street premises had a firearm, and stolen property worth R75 000 was recovered.
The three suspects arrested in the rented bakkie with a firearm “moved with the other three suspects”.
Kinana said the suspects would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on numerous charges including house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a hijacked vehicle.
“This office cannot confirm whether these incidents are linked to the crowbar gang at this stage. The investigation is continuing.”
Since 2013 the gang has been using crowbars to break into houses across the city.
Plato said: “Previously there were no breakthroughs with this case. It has been a top priority for police since the first attacks. So making six arrests now is a massive breakthrough for the police…”
The police were assisted in the arrest by members of CN Security Installations, a private security company.
Stephen Swartz, the company’s response supervisor, said: “When we arrived, police were about to apprehend the five suspects so we just made sure that they got all the support they needed. There were about six vehicles from the Flying Squad and they quickly surrounded the suspects in the white GTI and the bakkie.”
Meanwhile, reports emerging from Kuils River via Facebook were of a man who was shot dead while trying to break into a house on Aloe Street.
Lowellan West posted: “One of the homeowners was in his house while the Crowbar gang tried to break in Aloe Str. Needless to say he walked into a firearm and died on the scene. The others left in a hurry leaving their vehicle and the deceased behind.”
Police declined to confirm this.
Comments from the Kendal Road Community Facebook page:
Bev Hardy: “Fantastic news, well done! It will be even better if they don’t get released to carry on with their activities, sadly they do”
Catherine Ann Roomes: “Great but they will be out tomorrow doing the same damage!!!”
Stuart Grobbelaar: “Hope they are charged. To often an owner doesn’t feel the need to even visit the police station and lay charges, which means they’re often kept overnight and let out the next day.”
Izak BokforLife Du Plessis: “Job well done! Proud of those involved.”
Johan Badenhorst: “Excellent work, SAPS and all those involved!”
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/crowbar-gang-breakthrough-1.1832823#.VQfylY4XcXg
