Cigarette delivery vehicle robbed in Phillipi

A 40-year-old man will soon appear before the Athlone Magistrates Court after allegedly robbing a cigarette delivery vehicle in the area.

The police’s Ndakwe Gwala said that Phillipi police officers heard gunshots in their vicinity and as they approached the crime scene, they discovered that a cigarette delivery vehicle was being robbed, and spotted one suspect who fled the scene empty handed, running towards the direction of a Toyota Quantum with police members in pursuit.

Gwala added that the driver of the Toyota Quantum and two other males drove off as the suspect was apprehended.

‘’Furthermore, during this incident, boxes of various tobacco brands with an estimated value of R500 000.00 were looted by members of the community. Police members patrolled the area and arrested two males aged 17 and 18 who possessed cigarettes with an estimated value of R8000 for possession of suspected stolen property,’’ said Gwala.

‘’Both suspects will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s court. Investigations into this matter continue and more arrests are not ruled out,’’ she added.

 Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the investigating official Detective Warrant Officer Johannes Louw of the Provincial Organized Crime Unit at 0721954594. Alternatively, Crime Stop on 08600 10111.