DURBAN It is alleged on 6 October 2019 at 22:15, two armed men entered a service station in Umlazi. They held up an employee with a firearm and tied his hands and legs with shoe laces. The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash and a cellphone before fleeing the scene in their getaway vehicle.

Yesterday, police officers from the Ethekwini Outer South Cluster conducted an intelligence driven operation at W Section in Umlazi and Ezingonyameni, searching for the suspects involved in the business robbery. During the operation, police officers arrested three suspects aged between 27 and 34 at various locations. Police seized a large amount of cash as well as a vehicle that was used in the commission of the offence from the suspects.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula has lauded police at Umlazi for the breakthrough. This breakthrough follows the arrest of three men at Inanda who were linked to seven robberies on betting establishments in the province. We will continue to turn up the heat on these thugs that are terrorising businesses in the province and we call on communities to stand up and expose those criminals living amongst them, he said.

Detectives are still probing their involvement in other similar robberies committed in Umlazi and surrounding areas. They are expected to appear in the Umlazi Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Often these thugs live lavish lifestyles and flaunt their wealth despite being un-employed. They rob citizens of their hard earned cash and belongings. It is common knowledge that they share the spoils of their crime sprees with their loved ones and friends. We cannot allow this to continue and need to nip this practice in the bud if we want to break this vicious cycle of crime and violence, Lieutenant General Jula added.

Source: South African Police Service