Cops kill toy gun robber
2008-09-15 21:37
Emalahleni - A suspect who was shot while aiming a toy-gun at police died while explaining to nurses what had happened.
Mpumalanga police had shot him in the leg after responding to a tip-off that seven suspected robbers wanted for a string of daring business break-ins were hiding in a shack in Coronation township near Emalahleni on Saturday.
Three suspects saw the police approaching and the one with the toy gun pointed it at the cops while running away, said Mpumalanga organised crime unit Captain Leonard Hlathi said on Monday.
"We didn't hesitate to shoot him," said Hlathi.
The suspect was shot in the right leg. When he dropped his gun, police found it was a toy gun.
They continued to give chase and arrested one suspect, while the injured man and other accomplice fled the scene.
Syndicate
"We phoned the local hospital and told them to inform us if a man was admitted for a gunshot wound to the right leg," said Hlathi.
Soon afterwards, police were told that the man had died while trying to explain to nurses that police had shot him.
"We believe the suspect was part of a syndicate that has executed a series of daring business robberies in Emalahleni over the past few months," said Hlathi.
About a dozen business break-ins were reported in Emalahleni in the last few weeks, starting with Markhams, which was robbed late last month of clothing, cellphones and footwear.
The gang also robbed the Exact clothing shop, Studio 88 and Price Breaker Supermarket.
In all cases, the suspects gained entry through the roof.
On Friday night, seven businesses were robbed, including Foschini, AK Supermarket and Tlou Furnitures, all in the same complex.
Shoot to kill
Police managed to recover most of the stolen goods in the Coronation shack. Some of the goods had already been sold to businesses people, including 20 cellphones recovered from a businesswoman in the city centre.
One of the missing suspects is believed to be an expert at deactivating alarms.
Hlathi warned that police would not hesitate to shoot to kill anyone who threatens the lives of the police or other law-abiding citizens.
The arrested suspect will appear in the Witbank Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, while police continue to search for his five accomplices.