Hawks make first swoop

2009-07-08 11:08

Johannesburg - The country's new crime fighting team - the Hawks - made its first arrest in Durban on Wednesday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said Hawks members used such precision that they were at the crime scene at 06:30 before the crime could even be committed.

"The three suspects were arrested at the scene outside a jewellery store in Grey Street, Durban this morning," he said.

The trio had allegedly planned to rob the store.

Mdunge said the robbers were being led by a sangoma who had allegedly used muti to ensure they could commit the crime safely.

"But the information got to the new police unit and they carried out an observation at the said location."

The suspects were spotted in a car and confronted by the police officers.

One firearm was recovered and police said the car would be screened to check if it was stolen.

Police were trying to link the suspects to other crimes in the Durban area.

New crime fighting unit, the Hawks, was launched on Monday to replace the Scorpions.

- SAPA