Staff Reporter
Eight men were arrested on Tuesday evening in Ficksburg after staging a daring robbery at a Post Office in Clocolan a few hours earlier and making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Free State police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said surrounding police stations, farmers, the K9 and crime prevention units were activated soon after an employee of the Post Office — whose car was also taken in the robbery — reported the incident.
“. . . at about 17:30 police in Clocolan received a complaint of a robbery that had just been committed at a Post Office where an undisclosed amount was (taken),” said Mbambo in a statement.
Mbambo said the 49-year-old female complainant told the police that after knocking off, she and her five colleagues were closing doors of the Post Office on Andries Pretorius Street in Clocolan when they were surprised by five armed men.
These men had apparently gained entrance through the back door.
They pointed them with firearms and ordered them to give all the money and the Post Office keys.
“The suspects then took an undisclosed amount of money and keys before fleeing the scene in the complainant’s Ford Ecosport,” she explained.
With all neighbouring police stations and security teams in the largely farming community activated, it’s believed it became very difficult for the criminals to escape.
The eight suspects were arrested in Ficksburg and police were able to recover the stolen cash, the Post Office keys and the complainant’s vehicle.
Three pistols were also found on the suspects.
The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Solly Lesia, commended the sterling multidisciplinary approach by various stakeholders which led to the arrest of the eight suspects and the recovery of the firearms and stolen cash shortly after the commission of the crime.
The suspects will appear in the Clocolan Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges of business robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms.
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