High-speed chase sows traffic mayhem

Necuno

Necuno

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:eek: beware of the butchers


http://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20081028055637185C252278
With scant regard for their own safety, two Pretoria butchers helped ensure that three heavily armed robbers were nabbed after a high-speed chase through oncoming traffic for nearly 15km on Monday.

Shaun Olivier and Daniel Vermaak were returning to their butchery in Hercules when they spotted Vermaak's car being driven past them at high speed with three unknown men inside.

Unbeknown to them, those driving Vermaak's car had just held up his wife and staff at their business, Wesmoot Butchery, grabbing money, before speeding off in his car and their own getaway car.

The five-man armed gang held guns to the heads of staff members, threatening to execute them if they were not given what they wanted.

Recalling the chase, Vermaak said when he saw his car "flying" past him he immediately phoned his wife to find out if she was all right.

"I knew in my gut that something was wrong. When I heard her crying I knew something bad had happened and decided to give chase."

Racing after the suspects, who at times swerved between oncoming cars and trucks to try to shake off their pursuers, Vermaak telephoned several police contacts alerting them to what had happened.

"It was crazy. It was like a movie. The guys were racing between cars, forcing vehicles off the road and skipping traffic lights. They were doing everything to shake us off," he said.

Disregarding the fact that the men were armed, Vermaak and Olivier continued to give chase, constantly keeping in contact with police, directing them to where the men were going.

Police immediately dispatched a helicopter, and together with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, closed off roads and intersections as the suspects raced through several western and northern suburbs until they turned onto Soutpansberg Road, towards the N1.

A Metro Police patrol, which spotted the suspects race past them in Riviera, joined the chase, narrowly avoiding a collision as the gunmen tried to ram them off the road.

An officer, who asked not to be named, said as the suspects went past them, the driver tried to ram into their car, before he swerved between two cars, which "sandwiched" the vehicle. "I saw pieces of metal flying as the car got hooked into one of the two cars and the driver lost control of his car and swerved off the road before a tyre burst. It was chaos.

"Cars were swerving everywhere as drivers tried to get out of the way before the getaway car came to a standstill," he said. Leaping out of the getaway car as it stopped near Rietondale Primary School, the gunmen tried to escape on foot.

One of the men was caught as he battled to get out of the car, while the other two were caught as they tried to escape through gardens towards Meintjieskop. Two of the suspects managed to escape while three were arrested. A revolver was recovered in a garden where one of the suspects was arrested.

After inspecting his car, Vermaak said while he was upset it had been damaged, he was relieved that the robbers had been caught.

"I was not prepared to let them go. I saw red and thought this is it. I was not worried about my safety. I just made up my mind and went after them. I was not about to let these guys get away with terrorising my family and staff," he said, adding that he would do it again if needs be.

Police spokesperson Captain Agnes Huma, confirmed that a revolver had been recovered.

She said the suspects would appear in court soon on charges of armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and reckless and negligent driving.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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a fine balance between retrieving a car worth R100,000.00 and losing your life. Don't try to be heroes people. At least these guys did not try to confront the thieves. But what would have happened if the thieves slowed down and opened fire?
 
With South Africa slowly de-generating into something reminiscent of the wild west, the necessity for some cowboys seems to be increasing. the rural ppl deal with these issue with a kind of lynch mob.. I know this sounds irrisponsable of me.. but I like the idea...
 
I think we all need to get these guys details (at least their business details) and congratulate them, plus place orders for biltong etc...

Brilliant story :)
 
Garyvdh said:
a fine balance between retrieving a car worth R100,000.00 and losing your life. Don't try to be heroes people. At least these guys did not try to confront the thieves. But what would have happened if the thieves slowed down and opened fire?
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Although I agree that life is important it is this take what you want weak attitude that has made the criminals so bold.

When people rise up and say we will not give another inch to those who are walking over us.

In South Africa a small group criminals are holding all of us hostage.

Yes I want my GF and my mother and everyone to be safe but I also have to stand up for what I believe in to make my country safer for my children one day.
 
greggpb said:
Bad Boers 2 had me is tears.... "Sorry can we borrow a cup of brown sugar, don't be alarmed we're negros"
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They're biltong-makers man, should've read "can we borrow some asyn and koljander please? moenie worrie nie, ons bliksem net kardiewe"

I agree that it could've turned out nasty for the butcher boys too. Or what if they'd lost control and taken out some innocent people?
 
Devill said:
Although I agree that life is important it is this take what you want weak attitude that has made the criminals so bold.

When people rise up and say we will not give another inch to those who are walking over us.

In South Africa a small group criminals are holding all of us hostage.

Yes I want my GF and my mother and everyone to be safe but I also have to stand up for what I believe in to make my country safer for my children one day.
Click to expand...

I know. But how much safer are they gonna be when you are dead and buried? Whose income are they going to live off of?

If you own a gun and know how to use it. That is one thing. But if you are unarmed, that is completely another thing. Follow them by all means. Call the police yes. Get other members of the public involved in the pursuit. But whatever you do, do not confront them unarmed. When that time comes it is time to hot-foot it out of there. Then follow them at a distance again.
 
He did not consider the lives of the ppl he endangered with his bond, rambo rambo testosterone rush did he?
 
My moer, I live in Riviera.. I heard the chopper and sirens, but sirens are common since it's a block or two away from Pretoria Academic. Just thought the sirens sounded.. 'more' :) Glad the guys are okay, and that the baddies were caught!
 
Garyvdh said:
I know. But how much safer are they gonna be when you are dead and buried? Whose income are they going to live off of?

If you own a gun and know how to use it. That is one thing. But if you are unarmed, that is completely another thing. Follow them by all means. Call the police yes. Get other members of the public involved in the pursuit. But whatever you do, do not confront them unarmed. When that time comes it is time to hot-foot it out of there. Then follow them at a distance again.
Click to expand...

Devill said:
Although I agree that life is important it is this take what you want weak attitude that has made the criminals so bold.

When people rise up and say we will not give another inch to those who are walking over us.

In South Africa a small group criminals are holding all of us hostage.

Yes I want my GF and my mother and everyone to be safe but I also have to stand up for what I believe in to make my country safer for my children one day.
Click to expand...

Freedom comes at a cost not all are willing to pay.

Would you rather have some people dead because they did something about the crime or would you have some people doing nothing because they were murdered?

IMO the people who did something atleast made a difference.
 
Problem is; the criminals will get off with a slap on their wrists and will be back to murder the butchers.
 
Good! I was kinda wondering whether they were going to clever the robbers lol but I'm glad they did what they did. If they not in jail , they out potentially murdering or robbing elsewhere so anytime served is good time.
 
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