A gardener and a police official are alleged to have pulled off a heist at a police station under the cover of darkness brought on by load-shedding.
They were arrested after a high-speed chase through the streets of Mdantsane on Wednesday night.
Earlier an exhibit room at the Inyibiba police station in NU17 Mdantsane was burgled when power to the area was cut.
Goods valued at more than R10000 – including 17 arms of dagga, a bag full of dagga and a flat screen TV – were stolen and recovered after the high-speed chase.
The drama started at 7pm when police realised something was amiss during a routine inspection using torches.
The exhibit room is located behind the police station, and although a generator supplied power to the station, the back of the premises was plunged into darkness.
During the torch inspection, police officers spotted a maroon Ford Tracer fleeing from the police station, which aroused their suspicions.
On realising the door leading to the evidence room was forced open and that they had been burgled, the officers jumped into their vans and immediately gave chase.
During the high-speed chase, police repeatedly fired warning shots to force the driver of getaway vehicle to stop, but with no success.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the pursuit ended when the suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a residential wall.
Three of the men fled, but police arrested a fourth who had been injured in the crash and recovered the stolen property – and discovered that the arrested man was a colleague.
“He was taken to hospital and later discharged to the custody of the police,” Mzuku said.
One of the fugitives, a grass cutter, also employed at the station, handed himself over to police yesterday.
Mzuku said more arrests were imminent.
He said the suspects were charged with business robbery and possession of suspected stolen property, and were due to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court today.
The Dispatch visited the scene of the crash where homeowner Mpumzi Ntutu expressed his shock.
“At first there was a loud bang that shook the house, followed by three gunshots,” said Ntutu.
“I went out to investigate and saw people running in different directions.
“Police told me not to worry as they were busy chasing suspects who had stolen from the police station. They were so shocked when they realised that one of the suspects was their colleague.”
He said the police official, an admin clerk, had been badly injured and was bleeding from a wound to his head.
He said the wall of his house was damaged and would now have to be rebuilt.
“As the family we will be launching a claim through the courts against the driver,” Ntutu said. The incident left him, his mother and six-year-old daughter shaken. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Station heist: cop held
They were arrested after a high-speed chase through the streets of Mdantsane on Wednesday night.
Earlier an exhibit room at the Inyibiba police station in NU17 Mdantsane was burgled when power to the area was cut.
Goods valued at more than R10000 – including 17 arms of dagga, a bag full of dagga and a flat screen TV – were stolen and recovered after the high-speed chase.
The drama started at 7pm when police realised something was amiss during a routine inspection using torches.
The exhibit room is located behind the police station, and although a generator supplied power to the station, the back of the premises was plunged into darkness.
During the torch inspection, police officers spotted a maroon Ford Tracer fleeing from the police station, which aroused their suspicions.
On realising the door leading to the evidence room was forced open and that they had been burgled, the officers jumped into their vans and immediately gave chase.
During the high-speed chase, police repeatedly fired warning shots to force the driver of getaway vehicle to stop, but with no success.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the pursuit ended when the suspects lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a residential wall.
Three of the men fled, but police arrested a fourth who had been injured in the crash and recovered the stolen property – and discovered that the arrested man was a colleague.
“He was taken to hospital and later discharged to the custody of the police,” Mzuku said.
One of the fugitives, a grass cutter, also employed at the station, handed himself over to police yesterday.
Mzuku said more arrests were imminent.
He said the suspects were charged with business robbery and possession of suspected stolen property, and were due to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court today.
The Dispatch visited the scene of the crash where homeowner Mpumzi Ntutu expressed his shock.
“At first there was a loud bang that shook the house, followed by three gunshots,” said Ntutu.
“I went out to investigate and saw people running in different directions.
“Police told me not to worry as they were busy chasing suspects who had stolen from the police station. They were so shocked when they realised that one of the suspects was their colleague.”
He said the police official, an admin clerk, had been badly injured and was bleeding from a wound to his head.
He said the wall of his house was damaged and would now have to be rebuilt.
“As the family we will be launching a claim through the courts against the driver,” Ntutu said. The incident left him, his mother and six-year-old daughter shaken. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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