20 June 2018- Today as a result of the multi-disciplinary stabilisation and normalisation plan launched earlier this month, three members of the so called ‘Rolex Gang’ were apprehended in possession of a hijacked vehicle on the R25 in Modderfontein in Johannesburg.
The Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi, has commended the tenacity with which this intelligence-driven operation was executed. The high level team included the police’s Crime Intelligence, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, SAPS K9 Unit, the Alexandra Trio Task Team, Gauteng Traffic Saturation Unit as well as the Tracker Connect Investigation Department.
This integrated team had been holding surveillance on the movements of the suspects since the hijacking of a vehicle in Alexandra last month, May 2018.
Today at just after 13:00 the operational plan was successfully implemented with assistance from the SAPS Airwing and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Swat members. When the suspects realized that they had been cornered they started shooting at the team and police responded.
Three suspects were arrested at the scene; one sustained injuries during the shootout.
The vehicle, two handguns with ammunition and other items were seized.
The Acting National Commissioner of Police said, “Combatting car hijackings, as a category of the trio crimes, is one of our top priorities. This collaborative effort of various law enforcement agencies will, going forward, be incorporated in the normalisation approach that will ensure the sustainability of low levels of serious crime”.
The DPCI will be investigating this case and the National Head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya also commended the members that implemented this operation. “I am pleased with the integrated approach towards the fight against serious and violent crime. It is evident that when we coordinate our efforts, we will emerge victorious against the scourge of aggravated robberies,” said Lt Gen Lebeya.
