Gauteng Police Commissioner Commends Swift Action in Two Business Robbery Cases

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela praised the work of investigators in two separate business robbery cases, where detectives quickly uncovered evidence of staging. In the first case, a sunglass store employee reported under oath that the store had been robbed at gunpoint, but police swiftly deduced that the report was false. Within 24 hours, the complainant and two accomplices were arrested, facing charges of business robbery and perjury. In the second incident, two security guards were arrested on the spot for perjury and theft after police suspected a staged robbery at a mining company. An investigation is underway to determine if the guards may have colluded with more suspects.

Key Takeaways:

• Police in Gauteng investigated two business robbery cases, one at a sunglass store in Mall of Africa and the other at a mining company in Kagiso.
• In both cases, detectives suspected that the reports were false and quickly gathered evidence to support their suspicions.
• Within 24 hours, the complainant in the sunglass store case and two accomplices were arrested and charged with business robbery and perjury.
• The two security guards arrested at the mining company were charged with perjury and theft.
• Lieutenant General Mawela emphasized the importance of thoroughly investigating reported cases, despite the diversion of resources that may occur.
• Perjury is a serious and prosecutable offense, according to the Provincial Commissioner.

Statistics:

• 2 business robbery cases were reported in Gauteng within a short period.
• 4 individuals were arrested in connection with these cases: 1 complainant and 3 accomplices in the first case, and 2 security guards in the second case.
• R (amount of money) was recovered by police as part of the investigation.
• The police responded to 2 unrelated business robbery complaints in December 2020.

Sources:

• South African Police Service, 28 December 2020