Cops probe men’s link to robberies

THREE men who were arrested last week have been positively linked to at least one robbery on a Port Elizabeth smallholding.

Police are still determining whether the men are linked to other robberies in the area.

Yesterday, police revealed that Petrus Afrikaner, 31, Abrosius Kuvane, 43, and Simon Patrinos, 27, had been in custody since last Wednesday when they were arrested in North End, driving a white Golf.

All three appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday and have been remanded in custody until next week, when they will apply for bail.

The arrest came just hours after the three allegedly robbed a couple on a Colleen Glen smallholding.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said jewellery – believed to have been stolen in the robbery – was found inside the car.

“Detectives have linked them to at least one house robbery on a smallholding. Some items stolen from the house were found in the vehicle.”

Janse van Rensburg said some of the items in the car were linked to last week’s attack on a smallholding in Amanzi Road, Colleen Glen.

During the robbery, a man, 79, was injured and his wife, 74, was tied up.

Janse van Rensburg said detectives were still profiling the three men to see whether any further links could be made.

Last week, police said they had formed a joint task team to apprehend and link the suspects to other crimes.

The team was set up earlier this week by cluster commander Major-General Thembisile Patekile and his deputy, Brigadier Andrew Louw, who are overseeing investigations.

Patekile said the team comprised detectives and crime prevention officers from Kabega Park and Walmer police stations.

Janse van Rensburg said detectives would not say how many cases were under investigation.

All three are due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on June 6 for possession of stolen property and house robbery.