Durban - A robbery suspected was arrested after security company, Mi7 National Group received information on Monday morning that a white Ford EcoSport, allegedly used in a robbery in the Msinga area near Greytown, was headed towards Pietermaritzburg on the R33.
Mi7 director Colin David said the occupants of the vehicle were believed to be armed.
He said the Mi7 control room operators conducted an investigation on the vehicle's registration plates and found that it may have been used by the suspects in a string of other robbery cases, including in Wartburg and Umhlali.
“Additionally, the plates were cloned - the registration actually belonging to a vehicle still parked in the showroom of a Johannesburg car dealership,” said David.
David said operators notified police and armed response teams, comprising reaction officers and Strategic Threat Response Unit officers, were immediately dispatched to the Wartburg area to search for the vehicle.
“After some time, further information was received that the vehicle was now headed on the R614. Eventually, Mi7 Reaction Officers spotted the vehicle on the same road, and along with the police and their counterparts from other security companies, gave chase and intercepted the vehicle,” he said.
According to David, one suspect was found. He informed officers that two others had earlier jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
“It is believed the trio had robbed an individual of electronic items and other valuables in Msinga,” he said.
David said the suspect was arrested, and a widespread search for the remaining suspects was initiated.
“As management, we applaud the teamwork and collaboration displayed by all members of the security cluster involved. It is only by working together can we hope to root out criminal elements in our communities,” he added.