Unrest LATEST: Police recover suspected loot in Phoenix
A 39 year old man and woman were arrested when they were found with LG products that may have been looted during the recent unrest.
Police have swooped on two suspects and recovered suspected stolen LG products that may have been looted during the recent unrest from a bakkie that was travelling along the R102 near Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said police officers who were conducting duties along the R102 in the Phoenix policing precinct had stopped the vehicle and made the arrests in the early hours of the morning.
“The police officers stopped a bakkie on the R102 after noticing that the vehicle raised their suspicions. Upon searching the vehicle the police officers found various LG products. The two occupants who were found in the vehicle were questioned about the items but could not explain where they got the items from,” Mbele said. It is unclear at this stage whether the stolen goods are linked to the recent unrest and looting in the province.
Mbele said the police officers then arrested the suspects, a man and a woman, both aged 39 and took them to the Phoenix police station for further processing.
“Both suspects were charged for being in possession of property suspected to be stolen,” Mbele said.
Mbele said the suspects were expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrates Court on Monday, 23 August 2021 to face the charges.
The latest police arrest follows widespread unrest and looting that took place across parts of Durban and the rest of KwaZulu-Natal during the week of 12 July. Thousands of looters descended on businesses and shopping malls where they violently fired their way into the premises before looting stores of electronic goods, clothing, food and other items.
Police in the province embarked on an intense operation to recover the looted goods following the unrest. This led to scores of electronic appliances such as fridges, freezers and televisions being stored at local police stations before being destroyed. The week of unrest, spurred by demands to release former President Jacob Zuma from jail, cost the country’s economy billions of rands in stock losses and infrastructure damage. Zuma is serving a 15 month sentence for contempt of court after disobeying a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo Commission on State Capture last month.
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