KEY POINTS
- One suspect died and five were arrested.
- Police recovered stolen musical instruments worth over R2m.
- Firearms and ammunition were seized for further investigation.
After a gunfight with police in Westdene, Johannesburg, on Monday, one suspect was killed and five others were taken into custody.
Suspects involved in multiple church robberies
Numerous church and other place of worship robberies are thought to have been committed by the suspects. They were discovered in possession of musical instruments and unlicensed guns that were purportedly taken from a Florida church.
After being hurt during the gunfight, two of the five people who were captured are currently being treated in a hospital under police guard.
“Information on criminals carrying out armed robberies and break-ins at houses of worship around Gauteng was obtained by police crime intelligence. According to Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo, the information showed that a group was preparing to loot a church in Florida.
Police recover firearms, stolen music equipment
Officers in Sophiatown were on patrol when they noticed a Toyota Quantum that they thought the suspects were using. When police tried to stop the suspects, they fled. Following a chase, there was a gunfight as the suspects opened fire on the police. A fence was struck by the suspects’ car.
According to Timeslive, three weapons and ammo were found by the police among the suspects.
A music system valued at over R2 million was found during a car search; it was purportedly taken from a Florida church. The Toyota Quantum was also taken by the police.
“The guns will be put through ballistic testing to see if they were used in other crimes, and the suspects will be profiled,” Masondo stated.
