DESPATCH, GQEBERHA – A series of coordinated operations by the Motherwell Cluster Trio Task Team has resulted in the arrest of six suspects believed to be linked to several house robberies committed across Nelson Mandela Bay, with one suspect having been evading arrest for several months.
Two arrests turned into five
An intelligence-led operation was conducted on Friday, 17 July, acting on information received regarding suspects allegedly involved in house robberies who were hiding in the Winnie Mandela informal settlement in Khayamnandi, Despatch.
During the operation, two suspects were arrested: one suspect was apprehended in Gqalo Street, Khayamnandi, and the second suspect was arrested in Avenue B, New Brighton.
Further investigation and interviews with the suspects revealed that three additional suspects linked to the same group had already been arrested and were being detained at KwaDwesi SAPS. SAPS said in a statement this information has been verified, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to five.
The suspects are believed to be involved in several house robberies committed in Wells Estate, Motherwell, KwaZakhele, KwaDwesi and New Brighton. At this stage, they have been positively linked to at least two house robbery cases registered at KwaDwesi SAPS.
During the arrest of the suspect in New Brighton, police recovered a black Ottimo air fryer, which was positively identified as property stolen during a house robbery in the KwaDwesi policing precinct.
Police continued with follow-up investigations to trace the remaining suspects.
Then it turned into six
On Saturday, 18 July, a sixth suspect was arrested, a minor, who had allegedly been evading arrest for several months. The arrest also led to the recovery of a silver blank firearm, which has been seized for further investigation.
All six suspects are expected to appear in the relevant magistrates’ courts on charges of house robbery, while additional charges may be added as investigations continue.
Police investigations into the group’s possible involvement in other serious crimes remain ongoing.
The Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner commended the members for their persistence and dedication, stating that these arrests demonstrate SAPS‘s continued commitment to tracking down wanted suspects, recovering stolen property and illegal firearms, and bringing violent offenders to justice.
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