- Seven suspects linked to two home invasions were arrested
- A High speed chase ensued in Flamingo Park
- Unidentified men wearing bulletproof vests and posing as police officers robbed two homes at gunpoint in Thabong
Seven suspects were arrested in connection with two home invasions in Jerusalem Park, Thabong. The perpetrators had claimed to be police officials.
The suspects are facing two counts of house robbery, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property, and possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Laptops and cellphones were stolen during the two incidents.
On Sunday (21/05) and Tuesday (23/05) unidentified men wearing bulletproof vests and posing as police officers robbed two homes at gunpoint in Thabong.
On Tuesday (23/05) members of Welkom Public Order Policing (POP) received a tip-off about a known suspect and the registration number of a getaway car. This information led them to a house in Thabong.
Upon their arrival at the house, a 29-year-old man was found in possession of 9 mm ammunition. He then took the police to a house in Goshawk Street in Flamingo Park, Welkom.
At the house in Welkom, police encountered the wife of one of the suspects. During this time, a white Volkswagen Polo was seen passing the house at high speed. The police gave chase and arrested two suspects.
An additional 36-year-old suspect was arrested for house robbery in Thabong. At this time police seized two black tactical bulletproof vests, a black Sibanye jacket, and a brown jacket.
“These are the items worn during the home invasions. A grey Renault with Free State registration numbers, which was apparently used as a getaway car, was also seized,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
The police also arrested a 29-year-old man with a toy gun and a magazine in his possession. There after, a 34-year-old man was arrested for his alleged involvement in the two house robberies.
Additional items that were positively identified by the victims include 14 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, one magazine, one gold Nokia cellphone, and one Mobicell phone.
A 36-year-old woman was found in possession of a stolen black HP laptop, two gold Mobicell phones, one gold cellphone, one blue Mobicell phone, and one pink Samsung cellphone. “These items were all positively identified by the victims of the home invasions,” says Thakeng.
The police then proceeded to the Moeletsi Hostel in Thabong, where a 31-year-old man was found in possession of a grey laptop charger, and a 47-year-old woman was found in possession of one HP laptop, which she bought from the house robbery suspects.
A preliminary investigation reveals that the getaway car was stolen in May 2023 in Welkom.
