Wells Estate, Malinga Street, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, murder, officers robbed, cops robbed, three arrested, hijacking, robbery, armed robbery, South African Police Service, officer, men

Two SAPS officers who were responding to a crime were robbed by three armed men on Saturday, 27 August. Photo: @SAPoliceService / Twitter

Three arrested for robbing two SAPS officers responding to murder

Three men have been arrested after they robbed two officers who were responding to a murder in Wells Estate.

Wells Estate, Malinga Street, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, murder, officers robbed, cops robbed, three arrested, hijacking, robbery, armed robbery, South African Police Service, officer, men

Two SAPS officers who were responding to a crime were robbed by three armed men on Saturday, 27 August. Photo: @SAPoliceService / Twitter

Three suspects were arrested for allegedly being involved in robbing two South African Police Service (SAPS) officers.

The officers were robbed while responding to a murder in the area

The incident occurred in Wells Estate on the morning of 27 August while the officers were attending to a murder in Malinga Street. The officers were approached by three armed men and were robbed of their firearms, wallets and cellphones.

The officers were then placed in the back of the police van and the suspects drove off in the vehicle. While in Gijana Street, still in Wells Estate, the suspects stopped and allegedly hijacked another car.

They forced the driver out of Renault and got into his vehicle. They drove off leaving behind the police van with the officers in the back. Further down the street, the Renault was found abandoned. 

Eastern Cape SAPS spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said two cases of armed robbery, two cases of vehicle hijacking and a case of kidnapping were opened.

The three suspects attempted to hijack another vehicle before being arrested

Later that same morning, the three armed men tried to hijack a VW Polo. The driver sped off to SAPS Walmer upon realising what happened and the officers responded immediately. The suspects, who were on foot, tried to jump into a taxi when they saw the police vehicle.

The taxi was stopped, and the suspects were identified and taken back to 8th Avenue. There, three 9mm pistols were found lying along the pavement. The three men aged between 30 and 35 years old were arrested.

“Police have opened cases of attempted hijacking as well as three cases of illegal possession of firearms,” said Colonel Naidu.

Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene lauded the ‘swift action’ of the officers who responded to the attempted hijacking of the VW Polo.

ALSO READ: Woman, 29, arrested for allegedly KILLING her boyfriend in Wells Estate