One shot dead in Gauteng

One shot dead in Gauteng

August 5 2012 at 03:21pm
By SAPA

A robber has died in a shootout with the police in Villeria, Pretoria, while trying to make his getaway after holding up a supermarket owner, police said on Sunday.

The man and an accomplice took a substantial amount of cash and cellphones in the robbery on Saturday, said Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini.

“While fleeing from the scene, they fired a shot and took a security guard's firearm,” he said.

“They jumped into a getaway vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf. A high speed chase by the police and the security guards then ensued.

“As police caught up with them, several shots were fired at the police. Police returned fire and seriously wounded one suspect who later died.”

Dlamini said the second robber was arrested, and that three firearms, including the guard's, were seized. Everything stolen from the supermarket was recovered.

The getaway car was impounded, as it was thought to have been stolen, he said.

Elsewhere in Gauteng at the weekend, nine people were arrested, said Dlamini.

Two of them were arrested in Kempton Park after injuring a shop-owner “wither sharp objects” during a robbery, he said.

“Police attending to the scene followed up information and arrested the suspects at their residence.

A bag containing stolen items, including cash, was recovered

In Krugersdorp, three men were disturbed by the police while trying to rob a bottle store. Two pistols were seized.

Another three people were arrested in Germiston after robbing a local businessman of cellphone airtime vouchers, cigarettes and cash, said Dlamini.

The robbers were pointed out by members of the community. A toy pistol was recovered, he said.

In Roodepoort, Total Garage employees were robbed by three men, who took an undisclosed amount of money.

They got away, but while police were at to the scene, they saw a Volkswagen Microbus parked about 100 metres away.

“They confronted a man inside the vehicle and recovered cash stolen from the garage,” said Dlamini. They arrested him. - Sapa