Two wounded on R55 as police intercept R1.8m robbery suspects

Zuko Komisa

Five suspects were arrested, and two were wounded during a shootout following a business robbery in Sunderland Ridge.
Law enforcement recovered two unlicensed firearms and stolen stock valued at approximately R1.8 million.
The arrests resulted from a rapid, multidisciplinary operation that intercepted the suspects’ vehicles on the R55 road.

A rapid, multi-agency operation resulted in a dramatic shootout, the arrest of five suspects, and the recovery of stolen goods valued at approximately R1.8 million following a business robbery in Sunderland Ridge.

Two of the suspects were wounded during the exchange of fire with law enforcement officers.

The integrated response involved a wide-ranging coalition of services, including SAPS Gauteng Crime Intelligence, SAPS Highway Patrol, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, TMPD, and various private security firms such as Vision Tactical, Monitor Net, and Scorpion Security Services.

The operation was launched after intelligence was received indicating that suspects were planning a business robbery in the area. Teams were quickly deployed to monitor and intercept the movement of the alleged perpetrators.

After the robbery took place, the suspects’ vehicles—a white Kia saloon and a Hino truck—were spotted travelling together along the R55 road. When officers attempted to bring the vehicles to a stop, the suspects immediately opened fire, initiating a shootout. The chase came to an abrupt end when the getaway vehicle crashed into a tree.

Following a search of the scene, officers recovered two unlicensed firearms, along with ammunition, and the entirety of the stolen stock, valued at around R1.8 million.