Suspects (including two matrics) arrested for home invasions

WATERLOO – Six (6) home invasion suspects aged between 17 & 21 were arrested and a replica firearm used in a robbery was recovered by Reaction Officers in Hammonds Farm on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, Reaction Unit South Africa received a call from a resident of Waterloo requesting assistance to apprehend the suspects. The victim informed Reaction Officers that during the early hours of Wednesday morning, six (6) males forcefully entered their home and held up her family.

One suspect was armed with a firearm and his accomplices were in possession of knives. They stole a TV, cellphones and identity documents. Information received was that the robbers were residing in Hammonds Farm. Reaction Officers gathered further intelligence from informants before planning an operation to apprehend the gang.

Thursday morning at 09:14am, RUSA Members armed with high calibre rifles converged on the suspects hideout. As Officers penetrated the duplex and immediately placed four (4) men under arrest. A search of the ceiling resulted in a further two arrests. One suspect fell through the ceiling and sustained minor injuries. A black bag containing a replica firearm and an Okapi pocket knife was recovered in the house.

During an interview, the males confirmed that they committed the robbery and sold the TV and cellphones to a foreign national in Durban already. The identity documents were sold to a Pakistani national who specialises in counterfeit documents. Two suspects are confirmed to be Grade 12 pupils from schools in Waterloo and Tongaat. The suspects are believed to be linked to nine (9) other cases of home invasions in the area.