A collaborative intelligence-driven operation between Lephalale SAPS, Villa Nora Detectives, and local community watch has resulted in the arrest of three suspects linked to house robbery, fraud, and property damage. The suspects, aged between 36 and 42, will appear in court as investigations continue.
Image: Picture: File
In a decisive blow to criminal activity, a high-level, intelligence-driven operation has led to the swift arrest of three suspects linked to a string of serious offences in the Waterberg District, Limpopo.
According to Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng, the intelligence-led operation was a collaborative effort involving Lephalale SAPS, Villa Nora Detectives, Lephalale Public Order Policing, and the Shongoane Neighborhood Watch, the coordinated crackdown resulted in the arrest of three suspects, aged between 36 and 42, at separate locations on April 12.
The suspects are linked to a range of serious offences currently under investigation.
The first suspect was arrested for a crime committed last month involving a house robbery and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in the Villa Nora policing area, according to Lieutenant Colonel Thakeng.
“A 42-year-old male suspect was arrested at Shongoane 02, Marikana Section under Lephalale policing area following a house robbery and assault GBH that were committed at Villa Nora policing area on 31 March.
''The suspect allegedly went to the residence of a male victim with his accomplice and assaulted him on arrival after he was accused of stealing a cellphone. The suspect fled the scene with the victim's cellphone.”
The second suspect was apprehended for allegedly defrauding someone by selling a site he had no legal ownership of for R20 000.
“The police proceeded to Shongoane 02, Phatlhadira Mall and on arrival, nabbed a 36-year-old male for theft under false pretence. The suspect allegedly tricked a male victim out of an amount of R20 000, pretending to sell a new site that did not belong to him in the Villa Nora policing area. The owner is deceased, and his children did not give consent to the suspect to sell the site,” Thakeng added.
He further mentioned that the third suspect, a 41-year-old foreign national who is currently on parole, was arrested for allegedly causing malicious damage to property in the Villa Nora area. The arrest stems from an incident on April 11, when he visited his girlfriend’s home, found her with a male companion, and allegedly became violent.
“The suspect went to his girlfriend's residence and found her with a male companion. He became furious and allegedly broke all the windows of the house and fled the scene afterwards. The case of malicious property damage was opened, and an immediate manhunt for a 41-year-old male was launched, leading to his apprehension the next day on April 12,” said Thakeng.
Following their apprehension, the suspects first appeared in the Phalala Regional Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The matter has since been postponed to April 25. Authorities assure the public that investigations into these serious offences are ongoing, underscoring their commitment to maintaining safety and security within the community.
The Star
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