Robbers caught in the act

2003-10-16 14:39

Johannesburg - Two men were allegedly caught in the process of committing armed robbery by police in McKenzie Park, Benoni, early on Thursday morning, police said.

Responding to a call from an unidentified person, several police units rushed to a McKenzie Park house where a couple and their two children were being threatened by two armed robbers, said Superintendent Eugene Opperman.

Opperman said the robbers were not aware of their presence until Inspector Allister Subramanian, who had quietly entered the house, was standing in front of them.

Subramanian promptly arrested the two surprised men, and recovered two stolen pistols and the stolen goods.

Further investigation allowed police to recover another stolen pistol and to arrest three more alleged members of the gang, said Opperman.

Police believe the gang may have been involved in several other similar robberies in the greater Benoni area, and the South African Police Services crime intelligence unit would follow this up.

The arrested men would probably appear in the Benoni magistrate court on Friday or Monday, Opperman said.

Subramanian was chosen as the best police officer in his Unit for the month of September 2003, and seemed to be keeping up the good work, said Opperman.

He said the police "haven't got a clue" who the unnamed informant was, but thanked them.

- SAPA