On Thursday, a disturbing incident unfolded in Metcalf, Kwazulu-Natal, where a policeman on duty was robbed of his gun and cellphone during a business robbery on Ramiah Drive. The unsuspecting cop had responded to a call about a fake warrant at a car sales shop, only to find himself and several other security officers working at the dealership becoming victims of the crime.
The robbers, cleverly disguised as police officers in their uniforms, included two women among their group. An employee at the car dealership, suspicious of the suspects, took the initiative to call the South African Police Services (Saps) in Tongaat to verify the warrant. One brave policeman promptly responded to the call, unaware of the danger that awaited him.
Upon arriving at the dealership, instead of finding a legitimate situation, the policeman and his fellow security officers were robbed of their firearms. In addition to his Z88 pistol, the cop also had his state-issued cellphone taken from him.
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The criminals were not satisfied with just the weapons and personal belongings of the victims, as they also stole an undisclosed amount of cash before making their escape in two Ford Ranger bakkies.
The gravity of the situation prompted Saps to request assistance from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) and their air support team to track the fleeing suspects. However, despite the efforts made, the robbers managed to evade capture.
RUSA reported that the suspects were armed with their firearms, possessing several 9mm pistols and rifles among them. The search for the suspects was conducted, but unfortunately, it had to be called off prematurely due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The rain affected the visibility of the helicopter crew, making it unsafe to continue the search. The spokesperson for RUSA, Prem Balram, expressed disappointment that the search did not yield any results.
Thankfully, no one was physically harmed during the robbery. However, the incident highlights the audacity and cunning of criminals who exploit the trust placed in law enforcement uniforms.
The fact that the suspects were able to carry out such a brazen crime during broad daylight raises concerns about the safety and security of both businesses and individuals.
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