Quick reaction leads to arrests
SWIFT reaction by members of the Port Alfred policing cluster led to the arrest of five men just hours after the robbery of a local bread depot was reported on Tuesday April 12.
Police recovered an undisclosed amount of money, two firearms, two laptops and cellphones as well as a suspected hired vehicle.
The suspects, in their mid-20s and early 30s, are believed to be from Port Elizabeth and are in detention in Port Alfred. Detective commander, Lt-Col Ncamisa Donkrag said she and her team had received a report of a business robbery from the Port Alfred police station at 1.12pm.
Reacting quickly, the team headed for the Sasko depot on the East Bank. According to the owner, one man had entered the depot, bought a loaf of bread and left. A few minutes later he returned with three other men and, armed with firearms, demanded money.
“After opening the safe they tied up the people in the business and fled with other valuables in a vehicle that had been idling outside,” Donkrag said.
Shortly after the robbery, police received information that the men had been seen in the nearby Nemato Township.
“We got back-up from Nemato police and went on a hunt for the suspects,” said Donkrag, after police found the men in a house in the township and arrested them.
“It was great work from the members, the response was very quick.”
The five are due to appear in the Port Alfred Magist rate’s Court this week.
