Pretoria – A crime intelligence-based operation, on Sunday, led to the arrest of a most wanted suspect in connection to a number of house robbery cases and a car hijacking, in Limpopo.
The Tzaneen Cluster Task Team assisted by Public Order Policing and crime intelligence were tipped off that the notorious suspect from Nkowankowa, just outside Tzaneen, was hiding in Malamulele.
Police closed in on him and managed to arrest him.
A thorough search of his premises did not yield any results, which led the team to his girlfriend house at Mahonisi village, in Malamulele, where they managed to confiscate an illegal firearm and ammunition allegedly belonging to the suspect.
The girlfriend, who is believed to have participated during the crime spree, was also arrested.
At this stage, the suspect has been linked to 11 business robbery cases and one car hijacking, which took place in Tzaneen, Giyani, Ritavi, Letsitele, Thohoyandou and Vuwani, respectively.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Fanie Masemola hailed the arrest as a huge success.
Masemola said there was no hiding place for criminals.
“The suspect thought he could evade capture. The SAPS has the capability to pursue criminals relentlessly, track them down, and put them behind bars. No matter how hard criminals try to evade justice they will not succeed," Masemola said.
Meanwhile, the two suspects will appear soon at the Tzaneen and Malamulele Magistrates Courts, respectively, on charges of carjacking, business robberies and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Masemola said police investigations were continuing. – SAnews.gov.za
