Robbers caught hiding in roof

2008-03-16 08:23

Thabisile Khoza

Amersfoort - Three men who were arrested while hiding in a supermarket ceiling with a stash of stolen cigarettes and cigars.

The suspects allegedly entered the Schulpspruit supermarket in Amersfoort, Mpumalanga, just after midnight on Tuesday by cutting through the corrugated iron roof.

Once inside, the wires for the security cameras and burglar alarm were deactivated.

The security guard called the police to see why the cameras had been deactivated.

"We called the owner of the supermarket to open it and found there were two holes in the ceiling. We climbed inside and found the three suspects," said Amersfoort police spokesperson Constable Sihle Zulu.

They were not asked to plead to charges of housebreaking and possession of housebreaking tools when they appeared in court.

Sibusiso Nicholas Bhembe, 22, Jabulani Jeffrey Sikhosana, 29, and Sibusiso KK Maseko, 22, of Wesselton in Ermelo were remanded in custody until April 2 pending further investigation.

Police are investigating if they are linked to other break-ins at a local bakery and Pep Stores in January. The robbers had also broken in through the roof.

- African Eye