Man held after tourist robbery
ONE of the five men believed to have been involved in the robbery of an American couple last week has been arrested.
The arrest of the 30-year-old man came after a joint search operation between the Port Elizabeth K9 unit, Swartkops police and a helicopter.
The five men were spotted at about 10am yesterday in Monument Crossing, Motherwell.
The gang is believed to have hijacked and robbed Robert Webb, 61, and Verna Yocum, 67, both of Texas, on Wednesday last week.
The couple, who own a plant nursery that specialises in African shrubs, were on their way from Steytlerville to Grahamstown when they stopped along the R334 in Port Elizabeth to take photographs of plants.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the men had been spotted near to where the couple were found tied up.
“Police spotted the men and as, they were approaching the group, they dropped bags and fled deeper into the bushes,” Beetge said.
“The helicopter and K9 members were brought in to search the area. Officials from surrounding police stations were also sent to join in the search.”
Beetge said, within hours, one of the men had been found hiding in bushes. “The search continued but the other four managed to escape.”
He said police had found personal items belonging to the American couple in the bags that had been dropped.
The man is due to appear in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court on Monday.