Johannesburg metropolitan police arrested seven suspects, five of whom were in possession of alleged stolen property, in Midrand and Hillbrow on Tuesday.
Four of the five men were also arrested for bribery. Two others who attempted to bribe police to free their accomplices were also arrested.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said their officers stopped a vehicle, with four men who were driving into oncoming traffic at Allan Road in Olifantsfontein.
The officers searched the vehicle and discovered the occupants had suspected stolen goods including a handbag, a wallet, bank cards, a driving licence and cellphones that they could not account for.
The men, who are Zimbabweans, were questioned and admitted they rob patrons at various places of entertainment of their personal belongings. They further claimed they sold the stolen goods to a shop owner in Hillbrow.
Fihla said the suspects attempted to offer the officers a bribe and led them to a shop at the corners of Klein and Pretorius streets in Hillbrow where they found their buyer who was in possession of cellphones without receipts.
Seven suspects who were arrested by the JMPD on Tuesday and some of the alleged stolen property found in their possession.
Seven suspects who were arrested by the JMPD on Tuesday and some of the alleged stolen property found in their possession.
Image: JMPD
“The shop owner recognised the suspects, and he admitted that they have been doing business together. He was arrested and detained at Hillbrow police station,” JMPD spokesperson Kenny Fihla said.
He said the officers also seized all suspected stolen items from his shop and booked them in at the police station.
“While detaining the four suspects at Midrand police station, the officers were approached by two males who offered them a R600 bribe for the release of the suspects. Both males, also Zimbabweans, were arrested for attempting to bribe the officers,” Fihla said.
All the suspects will appear in court soon.
