Everson Luhanga
They robbed people in broad daylight and hid in a block of flats.
But the suspects’ luck ran out when they were arrested by the Hillbrow police last week at a place the police call the criminals’ ‘safe house’.
According to Hillbrow police spokesperson, Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo, the men are part of a syndicate which has been terrorising people in Hillbrow and the city centre.
“We have linked the suspects to about eight cases that were reported at the police station with a high possibility of more cases that haven’t been reported,” said Zondo.
He added that the suspects, who are aged between 21 and 35, operate when the streets are busy and overcrowded.
“They are not afraid of anyone. The more it gets busy, the easier for them to work in the crowd. Most of the victims who have reported the cases at Hillbrow police station were robbed during the day in a crowd,” he said.
In a 25-second video clip, supplied to Scrolla.Africa by Zondo, one suspect is seen grabbing a man by his throat from the back while a second suspect comes in and searches the victim’s trouser pockets.
Most alarmingly, this crime takes place in full view of passers by, none of whom even attempt to help the victims. Either afraid or preoccupied, each witness to the crime just walks by.
Zondo stated that police were told by many of the perpetrators’ victims that, after committing a robbery, they run and hide in a ‘safe house’ located at one of the flats in the area.
He said that after they arrive at the flat, the perpetrators change their attire to confuse the victims and evade the police.
The police have been working on a case against the perpetrators for three months.
During this time, officers have been sent into the building of the safe house undercover to build evidence against them before making a move to arrest them.
On Sunday, the members of the crime prevention unit entered the building and arrested seven of the suspects.
Police found people’s belongings, like bank cards, cell phones, women’s handbags, and other things.
Police have appealed for any member of the public who has been either a victim or witness to this form of aggravated robbery to come forward to the station.
The suspects appeared last week in the Johannesburg Central Magistrate’s Court and were denied bail.
