DURBAN – In the early hours of this morning police officers at Lamontville where conducting a suspect raid when they were alerted to a stolen vehicle travelling on the N2 freeway. Police spotted the vehicle on the N2 and followed the vehicle as it entered into Umlazi.
The police officers came under fire as they attempted to intercept the vehicle. A shoot-out ensued between the suspects and police at V Section in Umlazi. The suspect’s vehicle crashed into a container at the corner of Inwabi and Mangosuthu Highway. Two 40-year-old suspects were placed under arrest. One of the suspects was taken to hospital for medical attention under police guard after he was injured during the incident.
A preliminary investigation that was conducted at the crime scene revealed that the vehicle was stolen during a house robbery at Marianhill earlier this morning. It is alleged that the suspects, who were wearing balaclavas, entered a house on Solanda Crescent in Marianhill after they kicked the door open. They proceeded to the homeowner’s bedroom and stole his wallet; appliances and motor vehicle at gunpoint.
The stolen property was recovered during the arrest of the suspects. Police are investigating charges of attempted murder and robbery. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula has welcomed the arrest by Lamontville police officers. “Criminals must know that there will be no place to hide as police officers are deployed strategically to respond to crimes in known crime hotspots. Every attempt is being made to ensure that our rapid response capability is intensified and we are appealing to citizens to report such crimes immediately to police as it will enable us to close off escape routes used by criminals speedily,” he said.