KIMBERLEY: 01 FEBRUARY 2024 - The police in Springbok arrested 3 males in connection with an armed robbery that occurred on Wednesday, 31 January 2024, approximately 20 kilometres outside of Springbok on the N7. It was reported that a truck driver and two crew members were collecting money from local shops in the area, prior to the incident .
At 18:20 while driving on the N7, the truck was stopped by three men wearing reflector jackets. One was regulating the traffic while the other two were standing next to the road. After the suspect instructed the truck to stop, the other two men, wearing balaclavas approached the vehicle and instructed the occupants to get out of the vehicle. While threatening them with a firearm, they were instructed to get into the back of the truck. They had to hand over their cellphones but the driver managed to hide one of his phones. The suspects searched the truck and found an undisclosed amount of cash that was collected from the shops before the incident and took off with it.
While being locked inside the truck, the victims heard another vehicle stopping and driving off with the 3 suspects a while later. The driver was able to notify his employer who alerted the police. The suspects were apprehended and arrested by Sgt Pieter Mpasa who was the team leader and B shift members who responded on information received from the community of suspicious men in a vehicle.
The suspects' vehicle was stopped in Voortrekker street in Springbok at 23:30 the same evening and the three male occupants were arrested. The members found an undisclosed amount of cash, a 9mm Parabellum pistol with a magazine and ammunition with the serial number filed off. They also confiscated a silver Chevrolet Aveo that was allegedly used in the commission of the crime. The 3 suspects will soon appear in the Springbok Magistrates Court on charges of armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola applauded the team for their relentless pursuit in arresting the robbers and also thanked the community for the vital role they played in the arrest of the perpetrators.