It was later discovered that a security guard who had guided the Johannesburg metro police (JMPD) to a flat where cellphone thieves live was also engaged in the crimes.
Undercover metro police officers located five suspects in connection with robberies in and around the centre of Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Officers at Wanderers Taxi Rank were alerted of suspects in multiple robberies in the CBD during JMPD’s Buya Mthetho undercover crime prevention patrols.
The officers were directed to a Hillbrow apartment building by the information. When the police arrived, a security guard on the property directed them to the apartment. According to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, the police went to the room where the suspects were known to be staying.
Xolani Fihla said: “Two males were found and the room was searched. Several cellphones, wallets, ID documents, military uniform and brand-new shoes… were recovered by the officers.”
He said that none of the recovered commodities could be accounted for by the suspects.
Both the security guard and the accused were taken into custody. According to Fihla, it turned out that the two alleged thieves resided with the security guard.
Two more male conspirators lived in the building’s basement, where the police were then led.
Again, similar items were found, according to Fihla.
“On arrival, officers found the two male suspects and searched the room. More cellphones, wallets, ID documents and registration plates were recovered. When verified, one of the registration plates tested positive for a blue Renault, which was hijacked in Chatsworth. Both those male suspects were also arrested,” said Fihla.
The suspects were brought to the police station in Hillbrow, where they remained detained.
However, it was discovered after profiling them that the suspects had active and closed charges against them.
“These range from robbery, murder, hijacking and possession of unlicenced firearms.”