Cop swoop nets seven robbery suspects

A quickly-assembled team of 15 police officers surrounded the hideout of seven alleged violent criminals, wanted for a string of robberies in Port Elizabeth, in a latenight operation that ended in their arrest.

Police described the Monday night arrests as a breakthrough in what they believe is a gang of career criminals responsible for a spate of robberies in suburbs such as Walmer, Miramar, Charlo, Lorraine and as far as Kwazakhele.

The men, aged between 18 and 28, are all out on bail in a string of cases ranging from murder and illegal possession of firearms to armed robbery and theft.

According to detectives, the men have 15 pending criminal cases among them.

The pending cases involve crimes in areas such as Walmer, Kabega Park, Bethelsdorp, Newton Park and Swartkops.

The bust followed a tip-off that the men were hiding out in a shack an hour after they allegedly robbed the Madiba Spaza Shop in Walmer township at 7pm.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said that on receiving the tip-off, police had assembled a 15-member team, including detectives.

“One of the men had entered the [spaza] shop, posing as a customer,” she said.

“Within minutes, six other men joined him. Two of them had firearms and the others had large knives.

“They threatened to kill the store owner, who submitted to them.

“They ransacked the shop and stole items such as baby formula, money, cigarettes, nappies and airtime.”

Janse van Rensburg said the police team had arrived at the shack at 10pm.

The heavy rain masked their footsteps, allowing them to reach the shack undetected.

“The shack was surrounded and then the officers moved in,” she said.

“All seven were arrested inside the shack while [allegedly] smoking drugs.”

Five of the men live in Kwazakhele and the other two in Walmer township.

All the stolen items, as well as two stolen firearms and knives, were found.

“Several stolen cellphones were among the items hidden inside the shack,” Janse van Rensburg said.

The seven men will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for armed robbery and possession of stolen firearms, ammunition, dangerous weapons and stolen property.