Suspected burglary gang flees after high-speed chase

A high-speed chase through Pietermaritzburg unfolded on Friday after security teams and police pursued suspects believed to be linked to a series of housebreakings targeting homeowners across the city. The suspects, who were travelling in a silver VW Polo, allegedly form part of a gang responsible for several burglaries reported in recent weeks. According to Mi7 National Group, the group has been targeting homes using a similar method: forcing open gates, bypassing security gates or burglar bars and entering properties to steal valuables.

The suspects reportedly focus on safes and jewellery, completing the break-ins in under five minutes before fleeing. A breakthrough in the investigation came after a vigilant community member spotted the vehicle in the Hayfields area and reported the number plate to Mi7. The details were then loaded onto the Mi7 Surveillance Net, a network of surveillance cameras equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology positioned at multiple locations across the region.

The system quickly flagged the vehicle, confirming that it was still in Hayfields. Mi7 control room operators alerted members of the Strategic Threat Response Unit, who had already joined forces with the police to locate the suspects. When the vehicle was spotted, the suspects attempted to flee, triggering a high-speed chase through several parts of the city. The pursuit moved through busy streets in Pietermaritzburg before continuing into Dambuza.