Free State police spokesperson, Zweli Mohobeleli, says two firearms, ammunition and alleged stolen items from targeted shops were recovered during their arrests at two houses in Bohlokong on Friday. 

The arrests follow two separate robberies at shops in Bohlokong last week. A shopkeeper was held at gunpoint on Thursday by five armed men entered in Bohlokong Captain Charles location. He says later the same day a customer was shot in another robbery at a shop in Extension 1. Cash, airtime vouchers, a laptop, and cigarettes were taken. The injured customer was taken to a local hospital and was reportedly in a stable condition on Friday.

Mohobeleli says police conducted an intensive investigation.

According to him, Bethlehem Cluster Commander, Jan Tsotetsi, put together a team of trained officers to investigate the armed business robberies. Members from the police’s Tactical Response Team (TRT), detectives and members of the Crime Intelligence Unit, joined the team.  

Mohobeleli says Tsotetsi says armed criminals cannot terrorize communities. Business people should not constantly watch their backs, women must be able to walk the streets freely and children must be able to play in the streets without fearing for their lives.   

He adds that more arrests are imminent as police's daily operations into these armed robberies continue. 

The suspects have also been positively linked to a third business robbery earlier this month in the same area. According to him, the suspects face charges of business robbery, attempted murder and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. 

OFM News