Terror group arrested, household items recovered

MAFUTSENI – In a major bust, police officers at Mafutseni Police Station have arrested a housebreaking syndicate that terrorised the area and surroundings.

One could easily mistake the exhibit room at the police station of a pastor’s one-room flat as stolen items such as church sound systems, beds, couches, televisions (TV) set and refrigerators were displayed. The items were among those that were recovered by the police during the syndicate bust which resulted in over 35 dockets of housebreaking and theft being opened.

Over 10 TV sets, five refrigerators, two living room sets of three couches each, two beds, a number of laptops and over three sound system sets were stolen from churches and houses. The offences were committed in areas like Mafutseni, Ngculwini, Sidvokodvo, Luve, Mliba and Manzini.

INTIMIDATION

The syndicate of six was rounded up by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the station after cases of housebreaking and theft were reported. They face charges ranging from housebreaking to theft and intimidation.

It was revealed to the Times SUNDAY team that the syndicated appeared to have one ring leader who was in charge of all the housebreaking. The ring leader, who will not be revealed until he has made an appearance in court tomorrow, was also arrested together with the six others.

Close sources said he committed some of the crimes alone and only called the others to come with a bakkie to collect the items.

PROOFS

He allegedly used crowbars and chisels to break into some of the homesteads with bugler proofs.

The sources said the bust was secret operations and the details were closely guarded by the investigating officers.

“This is a major breakthrough for the police in the area. What amazes me is the fact that the police thought traumatic experience,” said the source.

The source said his items were taken while he was at work. He said he believed that the thieves studied his movements and knew when he was leaving his house.

He requested to not state the items that were stolen from his house to avoid being recognised in an instance where others were still at large.

BREAKTHROUGH

“I want to thank the police for this breakthrough, they have actually saved me thousands of Emalangeni from the items that were stolen from my house,” he said.

It was also revealed that the suspects could be working with three other teams around the country as there were other similar cases reported from as far as Nkhaba.

The investigating officer, Constable Mphumelelo Mkhwanazi referred all comments to the Station Commander Superintendent Stephen Dlamini. Dlamini said the station had forwarded all necessary information to the office of the Chief Police Information and Communications Superintendent Phindile Vilakati.

“We want to thank the police officers at Mafutseni Police Station for their dedication in solving crime in the area. This was a major breakthrough and we are hoping that we will see the end this housebreaking cases. Details of the case will be revealed when the suspects appear in court,” said Vilakati.

She requested the public to contact Mafutseni Police Station if they lost some of the items that were discovered.