Foiled business robbery thanks to police informant

VEREENIGING. – Information about a planned robbery from a police informant led to the arrest of five suspects.
The aim was to rob the employee of a well known wholesale business in the Vereeniging CBD.
They apparently planned to follow the shopkeeper to his home and rob him of the day’s taking.
But the police were aware of the plan and converged in on the corner of Beaconsfield Avenue and Edward Street, Vereeniging, on August 15 at about 15:30.
The robbers were taken by surprise. Due to shock one of the suspects soiled himself.
Police spokesperson of the Vereeniging Cluster, Captain Shado Mashobane, confirmed that five heavily armed suspects were arrested for attempted business robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and stolen vehicles.
Among the firearms was a R4 rifle, 3mm pistol and R5 rifle with 98 rounds of ammunition. The suspects are between the ages of 34 and 42 and hail from Sharpeville and Vanderbijlpark. The kingpin is from Vanderbijlpark.
Mashobane said National Intelligence, the Vaal Flying Squad and the Vereeniging Police acted swiftly – before the robbery could take place.
No one was injured in the process. The suspects briefly appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates Court.