Two in court for weapons theft

2003-03-09 21:24

Bethlehem - Two men are to appear in court after more than 30 weapons of various types were stolen from a security company in Phuthaditjhaba last week.

Captain Motarafi Ntepe of the Free State police said the two were arrested in Soweto on Thursday when detectives launched an operation to trace suspects wanted on various charges.

When they arrested a man wanted on a rape charge, he broke down and began talking about a vehicle that was on the premises, but that he had not stolen himself.

Questioning and investigation led the detectives to connect the man with the weapons robbery. He led them to the address of another two of the alleged robbers, of whom one was arrested.

Twenty-one of the stolen weapons were recovered shortly after the robbery, said Ntepe. Police were still looking for six .38 revolvers, six R5 rifles, one HMC submachine gun and one shotgun.

The man arrested on the rape charge would appear on that charge in the Diepkloof magistrate's court on Monday, said Ntepe. He would then be transferred to Phuthaditjhaba to appear in connection with the weapons theft.

The other man would appear in the Phuthaditjhaba magistrate's court on Monday on a charge of armed robbery and kidnapping, said Ntepe.

The kidnapping charge related to people who were forcibly held during the robbery.

- SAPA