2023 starts with a bang

GEORGE NEWS - The year kicked off with two business robberies in the first week, in Market and Meade streets in the central business district.

Four suspects (aged between 23 and 38) from Khayelitsha in Cape Town were arrested for an attempted business robbery in Market Street on Saturday afternoon, 7 January.

Two were later released by the police. "The case against one of the two remaining suspects was dropped, for the time being, and one suspect appeared in court on Tuesday 10 January," said Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies. "He remains in custody until 19 January, pending a formal bail application."

In an unrelated incident, three suspects were arrested regarding a business robbery at a premises in Meade Street on Wednesday 4 January. The trio consisted of two men and a woman (aged between 24 and 33).

According to Spies, the case against the woman has been dropped for now.

"The other two appeared in court on Monday 9 January and will remain in custody until 18 January, pending a formal bail application, said Spies.

Both investigations are ongoing.

Market Street

In his feedback on the incident on 7 January in Market Street, Spies previously said various police units were deployed to the scene. "On arrival they obtained descriptions of those involved who already fled the scene. A lookout was sent out and one of the men was later spotted in the vicinity of the taxi rank," said Spies. "While police approached, he dropped an item. The vigilant members proceeded with a search of the man and discovered that the dropped item was an imitation firearm."

Further investigation led to three other suspects and a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi, with a Cape Town registration number, parked at the rank. They searched the vehicle and found three more imitation firearms concealed inside. All three suspects were arrested.

It is alleged that at least four men armed with firearms entered the shop. They threatened staff and demanded a key to the safe. The suspects however fled the scene without accessing the safe.

"The possibility that the suspects could be linked to other robberies perpetrated in the region is being investigated," said Spies. Of the four suspects, only one appeared in court and is kept in custody. Two were released by the police and the case against one of the remaining suspects was dropped.

Meade Street

In his feedback on the business robbery at a premises in Meade Street on Wednesday 4 January, Spies said three suspects were initially arrested.

It is believed that a man entered the shop and took an undisclosed amount of cash before he fled the scene on foot. He used a VW Golf as a getaway vehicle.

"The investigation took the police to a house in Thembalethu where the vehicle was tracked down the following day. Three suspects were later arrested, which includes the driver of the vehicle, as well as an employee of the business. Some of the cash was also recovered during the arrest," said Spies.

The case against one of the suspects, a woman, was dropped.

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'