Police brought to an end an eight-man gang's two-year violent crime spree in a hail of bullets which killed two, injured four and landed two more suspects behind bars.
When the eight, who were armed with a Russian-made 7.65mm Tokarev pistol whose rounds can penetrate a bulletproof vest, stormed a Laudium businessman's home on Monday they ran straight into a group of heavily armed police officers.
Police, using informants and information gathered through hi-tech surveillance systems, were lying in wait for the gunmen the night before after they received word that they were going to attack the house on Monday.
The gang, wanted in connection with a spate of violent house robberies across Pretoria, were apparently meant to attack the house last Thursday, but aborted the attack.
Police officers from the SAPS national hi-tech unit, Pretoria area crime combating unit and Laudium set their trap after receiving word that the suspects were seen travelling to the house from their Atteridgeville hideout.
While some police hid inside the house others took strategic positions along escape routes near the targeted house of Haroon Ibrahim.
Ibrahim and his son operate a supermarket and run the family business from their house in Himalaya Street.
The first suspect was killed when he was confronted by police as he walked into the kitchen and tried to shoot his way out of the house.
Realising they were caught in a trap, his accomplices fled. Two were shot metres from the driveway, while another two were shot by police lying in wait in Himalaya Street. One of those injured later died in hospital.
A police helicopter led ground police officers to the remaining two suspects who were arrested as they fled over a hill towards Atteridgeville. A policeman confirmed the gang had meant to attack the house last Thursday.
"These guys have done their homework. They knew what to come for. They had information on what was inside the house and where it was being kept," he said.
He said the men were part of a sophisticated gang who relied on information to plan and carry out their attacks.
"We believe that they can be linked to at least 10 house robberies across the city," he said, adding that they operated from hideouts in Atteridgeville's informal settlements of Phomolong and Brazzaville.
The source would not be drawn into commenting on why the gang had aborted their earlier attack.
"Fortunately for us and unfortunately for them, we were waiting and dealt a blow to their operations.
"They will not be doing this again," he said, confirming they had been hiding in the house since Sunday.
The police officer said they were searching for several more suspects including the getaway drivers who were believed to have been waiting nearby when the gang was caught.
A policeman was overheard telling a family member that they had been after the gang for more than two years, but had repeatedly missed them by minutes.
"When we received information two weeks ago we were determined to get them," said a policeman.
He said the Tokarev that had been recovered showed that they were not there to play.
"They were not coming for a picnic. They were coming to cause death and destruction. The bullets can go straight through a bulletproof vest.
"The Tokarev is not a water pistol. It is designed to cause maximum damage," he said.
Neighbour Shehnaaz Gani was preparing food when the gang attacked.
Gani, who fled into a passage with her daughter when more than 10 shots were fired, said: "I thought it was people trying to get into my yard. I locked the doors and hid in the passage with my daughter. I felt lame afterwards because of the shock."
Gani was pleased with the police's work.
"I am really happy with the work the police did. It was a good job. Usually when things like this happen in Laudium the police respond too late and the criminals get away," she said.
A distraught Catherine Phoku, who arrived on the scene after the suspects were taken by ambulance to hospital, said one of those shot by police was her stepbrother, Elias Phoku, and not linked to the attempted robbery.
She based this claim on a pair of shoes which were found at the scene.
"He came to the hospital to pick up my daughter, but she had already left by taxi.
"I told him to go over the mountain because it is shorter. He was not involved in this robbery," she said.
Provincial police spokesperson Superintendent Thembi Nkhwashu was unable to confirm Phoko's claims, but said police would investigate the allegation.
She confirmed a Russian Tokarev pistol had been recovered.
A case of attempted robbery and attempted murder was being investigated.
