WESTERN CAPE – The manhunt for six armed robbers came to an end when the dedicated members of Vredenburg police arrested them after a business robbery earlier today in Vredenburg.

On Thursday, 8 July 2021 at about 08:30, a call came through of a business robbery at a grocery store in Main Road, Vredenburg.

According to reports, six suspects, two armed with firearms, entered the shop while four suspects waited outside. The suspects inside the shop threatened the manager and a security guard and held them hostage in a small room and demanded money.

A security guard outside the shop became suspicious and pushed the panic alarm. Within minutes the police, consisted of members of K9 and Vredenburg police arrived on the scene.

The suspects, whilst fleeing the scene fired several shots at the police, who in turn returned fire. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and cellular telephones. Nobody was injured during the shoot-out however police and civilian vehicles were damaged.

At a groceries store in Louwville, Vredenburg, two of the armed suspects hijacked an elderly man of his Toyota Camry at gunpoint. They then fled in the direction of Steve Tshwete where the vehicle was later found abandoned at the railway tracks.

One firearm was found on the corner of Velddrif Road and School Street and the other one at the old Tourism Office in Main Road.

Information was received that the suspects were hiding at different houses in Sink Street, Ongegund in Vredenburg.

The members followed up the information and searched all the houses pointed out according to the information received, and arrested six suspects aged between 21 and 35 at different premises in the area.

The suspects are due to appear in the Vredenburg Magistrates court once charged.

Source: South African Police Service