A FORMER police constable (32) was arrested along with three of his accomplices, aged between 25 and 40.
The four were arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, 24 August in Standerton. During their arrest, police recovered suspected stolen goods linked to a robbery that had occurred on that earlier that morning.
According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a police report indicates that members of the police in Standerton were patrolling the area on Thursday when they spotted four men carrying some bags.
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"They stopped the men and searched them. In the process, they discovered some suspected stolen items in their possession. One of the items they found in the bags was a cellphone, which was one of the items reported stolen in a house robbery in the neighbourhood the previous day."
Mohlala said further investigations were conducted by members which revealed that a cellphone, along with other items in the suspects' possession, belonged to a complainant of a house robbery. As a result, the four were immediately arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property.
The former member of SAPS was employed by Visible Policing in Standerton but was dismissed in February 2022.
The four are expected to appear in the Standerton Magistrates Court on Monday, 28 August 2023 to face the said charges.
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela has discouraged the public from buying suspected stolen properties.
"We are working hard as SAPS together with other law enforcement agencies to address the problem of residential burglaries by arresting the perpetrators. However, we ask the public to refrain from buying these stolen items. The only way to stop the market for criminals is if members of the community play a role by refraining from buying these items. The exercise will certainly complement our efforts," said the General.
