Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says details pertaining to the robbery itself remain unclear, but adds the suspects were spotted fleeing the scene in a silver car with GP registration number plates. The police’s tactical response team division was mobilised following the robbery on Monday, and they managed to track the suspects to a house in Bohlokong township in Bethlehem.

According to Makhele the car was parked outside the house in Bafokeng street. Police proceeded to raid and search the house, finding three bags which contained clothes, mobile phones, wallets and handbags, collectively worth R260 000 in the boot of the vehicle.

The four were arrested and are expected to appear before court soon. The firearms used in the robbery, were not recovered during the raid.

The most recent crime statistics covering the lockdown period revealed that robbery at non-residential premises between March and April 2020 was down 65,5% as compared to the same period in 2019.  This was attributed mainly to the absence of economic activity during the hard lockdown – levels 5 and 4.

The investigation into the incident continues.

OFM News