A robbery suspect was shot and wounded during an early morning car chase and shootout with police on Tuesday.
Two other suspects escaped.
The incident – in which more than 30 shots were fired – followed a robbery at the El Bon block of flats in Windermere Road, Humewood.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the robbery occurred at about 12.30am.
“It is alleged that a 28-year-old man was sleeping when he heard a noise in the lounge of his flat. He got up to investigate and was confronted by three unknown men. He was threatened at knife point and ordered to lie on the floor,” she said.
“The suspects stole clothing and the man’s VW Golf 7 GTI vehicle. They drove off and he managed to alert police who circulated the stolen vehicle as wanted.”
Police believe the robbers gained entry to the ground floor flat by entering through a semi-opened balcony window.
About 30 minutes after the robbery, Mount Road Cluster Operational Command Centre members who were patrolling the area spotted the stolen VW in Standford Road.
“Attempts to stop the car failed. The suspects fired several shots during the chase and police retaliated by returning fire. Several shots were fired between the suspects and police,” she said.
“The pursuit came to a stop in Chase Drive where the three suspects jumped out of the car and fled. A foot pursuit continued and one suspect was shot and wounded. He was arrested while trying to evade capture by hiding inside the Papenkuils Cemetery in Stanford Road.”
One of the policemen escaped injury when a bullet grazed his shirt during the shootout.
Naidu said the 33-year-old suspect, who was shot in the upper body and hand, was arrested and is under police guard in hospital.
“The vehicle has been confiscated by police for further investigation.”
A search for the remaining two suspects is still underway.
Asked if any of the firearms were recovered during the incident, Naidu said that no firearms were found however, it is suspected that the two men who escaped took the firearms with them.
The detective Trio Task Team has been roped in to assist with tracking the men down.
A case of house robbery, theft of motor vehicle as well as attempted murder of a police official is under investigation.