HUMANSDORP – Two suspects were arrested on 27 March in connection with a highly sophisticated break-in at the Humansdorp Traffic Department that resulted in the theft of 17 state-controlled firearms, cash, and official documents nearly one year ago.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the Gqeberha Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Humansdorp detectives and the Jeffreys Bay Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of a highly sophisticated Humansdorp Traffic Department housebreaking and theft incident that reportedly occurred in April 2025.
He said that two suspects aged between 40 and 41 were positively linked to the crime and arrested by the joint team in the early hours of 27 March.
Mhlakuvana said that the arrest followed an intensive, intelligence-driven investigation into the incident, which was discovered on 29 April 2025 after officials returned from a long weekend and found that the department’s premises on Heugh Road, Humansdorp, had been unlawfully breached.
“The alarm system was reportedly disabled, effectively circumventing detection, while a reinforced walk-in safe was systematically dismantled through structural penetration of its cement and steel composition,” said Mhlakuvana.
“A particular concern was the fact that a secondary safe within the primary safe containing state-controlled firearms was also forcibly accessed.”
Mhlakuvana said that 17 firearms, cash and traffic-related face value documents were reportedly stolen during the commission of the offence.
Investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) ensued.
He said that the meticulous investigation culminated in the arrest of the suspects at Gqeberha, and a silver-grey Toyota Corolla was seized.
Mhlakuvana said that the suspects are expected to appear before the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on 30 March, facing charges of housebreaking and theft.
He said that the investigation continues and the Hawks are appealing to anyone who might have witnessed these criminal activities to come forward.
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