GEORGE NEWS - Five suspects were arrested at the Shell Kraaibosch fuel station on Monday afternoon (20 June) in connection with goods stolen at the Kimberley Mall, estimated at a value of R70 000.
The suspects - four men and a woman - were taken into custody by the Conville Police after their vehicle, with a GP registration number, was located at the Shell fuel station across Eden Meander and the Garden Route Mall. The suspects will be detained until their residential addresses can be verified, confirmed Capt Khunjulwa Sam, spokesperson for Conville Police.
According to Sam the police were notified by the security of Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre of 'suspicious people' in the vicinity. "The Conville Police asked the suspects' permission to search their vehicle and found cell phones and watches hidden in their clothes," said Sam. Five cellphones (LG g5 x2, I Phone 5, Huawei P8 Lite, Huawie P8, Blackberry Passport) and four Fossil watches were found.
"The security officer told the police the same people visited Eden Meander last year," said Sam. When approached for comment, Eden Meander Mall Manager Maggie Avery said she was not aware of the incident.
According to Sam the cellphones were traced and it was confirmed that they were stolen at Kimberley Mall. "None of the items were stolen at Eden Meander or the Garden Route Mall," said Sam.
A photo of the five taken at the Garden Route Mall was circulated on Facebook. This was confirmed by Garden Route Mall Manager Andrea van Rensburg, who added that the suspects did not conduct illegal activities at the mall during their visit.
According to the manager of Spar Express (at the Shell Kraaibosch fuel station), Amanda Botha, the suspects were arrested at about 14:00. She explained that she saw the suspects in the shop after she received the photo of them via WhatsApp. "They were looking for these guys at the mall and we were all asked to be on the lookout for them," said Botha.
"Within half an hour they came into our shop. We recognised them by their clothes. The police entered the shop shortly afterwards. A police officer approached me and said they know about the suspects. They were onto them, they were completely surrounded. It all happened so quickly."
Botha added that the suspects did some shopping at the Spar Express, but paid for their goods.
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