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By Sihle Mlambo 
2h ago
Johannesburg – Gauteng police arrested a suspect and recovered high-caliber firearms, including AK-47 rifles, after a shooting with suspects at a home in Lombardy East, near Alexandra Township.
Police were conducting routine patrols around 7 a.m. Friday when a shooting broke out with the suspects after they noticed one of them was armed. All three suspects were traveling in a Toyota Quest and looked like suspects, police said.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Capt.Mavela Masondo said the shooting started when police approached the suspects to search the suspect.
“It is alleged that the armed suspect then drew his firearm and fired at the police. An unconfirmed number of armed men reportedly emerged from a nearby house and a shootout ensued between the police and the suspects, ”Masondo said.
Mavela said police recovered two AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, an R-1 rifle with two loaded magazines, two loaded pistols, a car-blocking device, gloves and robbery implements.
They also found 10 vehicles inside the property, while the eleventh car was parked outside the property. Police have confirmed that three cars found on the property were reported stolen.
These cars include a BMW that was hijacked in Sunnyside, Pretoria, a Mercedes Benz that was hijacked in Daveyton, and an Audi A4, that was hijacked in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga.
“It is suspected that these cars will be used as getaways during the commission of the crime,” Masondo said.
He said police arrested one suspect, while the others fled on foot and in two vehicles.
“Preliminary evidence suggests that the suspects were in the middle of a plot to commit an aggravated crime before they were molested by the police.
“The police began a search for the escaped suspects while an investigation was under way to establish whether the arrested suspect and the weapons could be linked to other crimes,” Masondo said.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela applauded the police involved.
“It is clear that these suspects were in a meeting, conspiring to commit a serious and violent crime that could have resulted in the injuries and / or deaths of innocent citizens.
“In recent weeks, Gauteng police have thwarted serious robberies, recovered high-caliber firearms where suspects have succumbed to injuries during a shootout with the police. This is an indication that the province’s police are on high alert to protect the property and lives of citizens, ”Mawela said.
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