Two arrested with blue lights, police uniforms and hijacked vehicle
Police said the driver of a vehicle failed to stop when instructed, prompting a pursuit that ended in Leslie, Mpumalanga.
Two men believed to be linked to a string of blue-light robberies and vehicle hijackings have been arrested following a joint operation by police in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
The suspects, aged 32 and 41, were arrested on Friday, July 3, during a stop-and-search operation in Devon, Gauteng, conducted by local police and the Mpumalanga Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
Police said the driver of a vehicle failed to stop when instructed, prompting a pursuit that ended in Leslie, Mpumalanga.
A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered an unlicensed firearm loaded with ammunition, blue lights, and uniforms belonging to the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
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Further investigations revealed that the vehicle the suspects were travelling in had recently been hijacked.
Acting Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi praised the officers involved in the operation, saying the arrests demonstrated police’s commitment to tackling criminals who impersonate law enforcement officials.
“The arrest of these two suspects sends a strong message that police will not tolerate criminals who disguise themselves as law enforcement officers to terrorise innocent and unsuspecting motorists,” said Mkhwanazi.
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He said the use of blue lights and police uniforms to commit robberies and hijackings was a serious offence that undermined public trust, adding that police remained committed to dismantling syndicates involved in such crimes.
The suspects face charges of possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and impersonating a police officer.
