A 64-year-old serial robber is set to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court tomorrow following his arrest at the OR Tambo International Airport.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the suspect, linked to several other cases dating back as far as 1998, was arrested after he and three others robbed high ranking senior police officers.
“The three senior officers were making their way to the airport in an e-hailing service on Saturday afternoon when the vehicle they were travelling in was pulled over by four males travelling in a silver Suzuki swift.”
Mathe says the robbers posed as police officers. The e-hailing driver pulled over on the side of the R24, unaware of the suspects’ intentions. The suspects then robbed the police general and two other officers of money, watches and cellphones.
“Within a few hours, police traced the vehicle and arrested the serial robber,” Mathe added.
Mathe noted that the arrest of the elderly man, could lead to the dismantling of a syndicate involved in repeated airport robberies.
“The vehicle, that is believed to have been used numerous times in the commission of crimes that mostly took place on the R24 near the Barbara off-ramp towards OR Tambo International Airport has been impounded. During the investigation, police discovered that the serial robber has 42 prior cases involving armed robbery, the possession of an unlicensed firearm, fraud and impersonating a police officer.”
A search has been launched for the three other suspects involved in the robbery.
“An investigation is also underway to ascertain how a serial robber of this nature is still roaming the streets of South Africa and not convicted and serving time in a jail cell,” Mathe stressed.
