2 suspected robbers killed in Boksburg

Two suspected robbers were killed in a shoot-out with police in Boksburg as authorities followed up on intelligence about truck and courier vehicle hijackings and robberies, reportsBoksburg Advertiser. According to SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, a multi-disciplinary law enforcement team acted on the intelligence and one of the suspected vehicles was spotted in Boksburg yesterday (June 8). When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver sped away, which led to a high-speed chase through the area.

The pursuit ended near the intersection of Commissioner and Elsburg roads in Ramaphosa, close to the Tokyo informal settlement, where an exchange of gunfire reportedly erupted between the suspects and law enforcement officers. Two suspects were fatally wounded inside the vehicle during the shoot-out, while two others fled on foot into the densely populated informal settlement. A police vehicle’s windscreen was damaged after being struck by bullets during the shoot-out.

No officers were injured. Police recovered two unlicensed firearms and a Mazda vehicle at the scene. Further investigations led officers to a residential property in Germiston, believed to have been used as a safe house by the suspects.

[paywall]

At the property, investigators recovered a Chevrolet Captiva SUV that was confirmed to have been stolen in connection with a robbery case reported in Booysens, as well as several false registration number plates. Investigations are continuing to determine whether the suspects can be linked to additional crimes across Gauteng. Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni commended the operational team, which included members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team, Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, CAP Specialised Operations, Tracker Connect and Gemini Global Defence. He also thanked community members for their assistance, noting that many successful arrests and crime prevention operations stem from information supplied by residents.

[/paywall]