Man arrested after allegedly robbing cops of firearms

A man has been arrested in Mpumalanga for allegedly robbing two police officers of their firearms. The arrest was made after a shootout with police officers.

The robbery took place in Siyabuswa on Sunday night. The two police officers were robbed at gunpoint and the robbers fled with a rifle and two pistols, as well as ammunition.

“It is said that the robbery was orchestrated and carried out by about five armed suspects at a fuel station in Kameelrivier B near Siyabuswa at around 20:30. It is further reported that when these men were done, they took the keys of a police vehicle and fled the scene,” said police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

The two officers were not injured during the robbery.

After robbing the officers, the gunmen allegedly hijacked a vehicle in Waterval.

Mdhluli said:

No one was injured in the shootout and the gunmen escaped.

After a manhunt was launched, a man was taken into custody in Tembisa, Gauteng, on Monday.

“During the arrest, police found one pistol as well as a revolver in his possession. The said firearms were seized as they will form part of the probe. Police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the suspect to other crimes committed elsewhere,” said Mdhluli.

His four accomplices are still at large.