Four suspected house robbers were killed in a shootout with the police on the N14 in Centurion in Tshwane, Gauteng.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the suspects were shot on Thursday.
Muridili said Gauteng Highway Patrol working with private security officials were following up on information from Crime Intelligence regarding house robbery suspects terrorising Tshwane South and Johannesburg North suburbs.
She said during the tracing operation, around 3 pm, officers spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspects’ getaway car on the R55 in Centurion and tried to stop it.
“The perpetrators sped off and a chase ensued. Gauteng Traffic Air Wing was called for backup to support the team with aerial surveillance. The suspects took the N14 on-ramp towards Pretoria and when the police closed in, the suspects started shooting towards the police,” she explained.
She said police retaliated and fatally shot all four occupants.
Upon searching the car, police found three handguns and ammunition as well as house breaking equipment.
Preliminary investigation also revealed that the vehicle, a white Hyundai sedan was mounted with false registration plates and disc.
The suspects have already been linked with 18 house robberies.
“SAPS Forensic Crime Scene Management is on the scene as well as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate,” added Muridili
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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