17 March 2009

Gauteng Traffic Police arrest suspects with R9 million-worth of computers

The Gauteng's Department of Community Safety anti-truck hijacking unit has made another breakthrough in the fight against crime when they arrested two suspects for being in possession of stolen laptops valued at around R9 million as well as a stolen vehicle.

The arrest took place on Monday night, 16 March 2009, in Alberton following a tipoff that the suspects had robbed a computer warehouse of about 900 laptops in Kempton Park.

Formed in December 2008, the anti-truck hijacking unit is part of the joint Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy being implemented by the Department of Community Safety together with the SAPS in the province aimed at combating armed robberies of residences, businesses and vehicles - commonly referred to as the 'Trio Crimes.'

Subsequent to the tipoff, members of the unit responded immediately and followed the suspects who were travelling in a stolen Nissan truck until it stopped in a filling station in Alberton.

The suspect appeared briefly at the Alberton Magistrate Court on charges of business robbery and theft. They were denied bail since one of the suspects was also wanted for other crimes.

For more information contact:

Mandla Radebe on (011) 689 3741/3633 or 083 288 8915 or e-mail: Mandla.Radebe@gauteng.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Community Safety in Gauteng
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