Mere hours after a bottle store in Ventersburg was robbed at gunpoint, five men were identified and arrested.
After the robbery, information was immediately followed up by crime intelligence, Ventersburg detective services and the Welkom tactical response team (TRT), and a suspect was arrested in Odendaalsrus.
He gave the police information about his co-accused that was arrested at Mannys in Welkom. An additional four suspects were found and arrested, and a vehicle used in the commission of a crime, a grey Mazda 626 with Free State registration numbers, was impounded.
36 rounds of live ammunition were found in the possession of the suspects.
The suspects aged between 22 to 31 years old were found with cash amounting to R12 500 and alcohol suspected to have been stolen from the bottle store. The police also found 36 rounds of 9 mm live ammunition.
At the residence of a local tavern owner the police confiscated a computer monitor. The five suspects are facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property, business robbery and possession of unlicensed ammunitions.
“The tavern owner, Teboho Jeremia Mautse has disappeared and is wanted by the investigation team.
He can assist with the investigation of the bottle store robbery,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa SAPS.
The investigation is being conducted by Det. Sgt. Nthabiseng Mokayane of the Ventersburg detective services. He can be contacted on 082-466-8152, if anyone sees the tavern owner, or who knows where he is.
This vehicle was seized after a robbery at a Ventersburg bottle store.
