Winburg police are investigating a case of attempted theft from a truck and attempted murder after four men tried to steal truck tires.
A suspect has been arrested and police are looking for three more who fled in a white Renault Clio with GP number plates.
The police responded on Friday (13/9) to a complaint about possible theft of truck tires approximately 10 km from Winburg, towards Ventersburg. “Officers spotted a truck parked next to the N1 and approached it tactically when they heard someone shouting for help,” Free State police spokesman Stephen Thakeng said.
‘One suspect is under police guard in a hospital in the Free State’
Four unknown suspects were seen running from the truck while shooting toward the officers, who returned fire, wounding the suspect who they then apprehended. The man (26) from Thokoza in the East Rand of Gauteng is under police guard in a Free State hospital.
While inspecting the truck, officers noticed that the wheel nuts had been loosened, apparently by the perpetrators who wanted to remove the tires.
Meanwhile, four suspects will appear in the Virginia Magistrate’s Court on Monday (16/9) after police allegedly prevented them from robbing a shopping center in the town of Goldfields.
Mobile phones were seized containing detailed WhatsApp messages, allegedly to plan and commit a robbery. Photo supplied
“The suspects, aged between 25 and 52, were arrested on Thursday (12/9) during Operation Vala uMgodi. They left Klerksdorp for Virginia with two motor vehicles, a blue Fiat Palio and a white Nissan Tida,” said police spokesperson Thabo Covane.
“Police approached the identified motor vehicles and a search was conducted. A 9mm Norinco pistol with an archived serial number and a magazine loaded with eight (8) live rounds of ammunition were found and seized.”
Mobile phones containing WhatsApp messages – exchanged by the suspects – to plan and commit crimes have also been seized, he said. They are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, along with a charge of conspiracy to commit a crime.
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