Two nabbed as rifles, car parts found

PORT Elizabeth police arrested two suspected robbers and recovered three stolen hunting rifles during an early morning raid in KwaDwesi yesterday.

The raid has led to police suspicions that a larger criminal syndicate may be operating from the area.

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the two men were arrested in the Govan Mbeki area within KwaDwesi at 6.30am.

Besides the three hunting rifles – stolen during a farm attack at Seven Fountains near Addo last week – car parts allegedly stolen were also found on the premises, Beetge said.

“This comes after police had received a tip-off about men with firearms inside a KwaDwesi house.

“On searching the house, besides the hunting rifles, police seized more than 100 live rounds of ammunition of various calibre,” he said. Two men, aged 23 and 28, were arrested. Last week, police also recovered a stolen rifle – from the same farm attack – hidden under the bonnet of a car parked outside a house in Missionvale.

Beetge said police were investigating the possibility of a syndicate being involved and are checking possible links to a series of other crimes, including hijackings and vehicle thefts.

“On further investigation, a red VW Golf was found partially dismantled at the house in KwaDwesi.”

The VW Golf was allegedly hijacked in Kwazakhele last month.

While searching the rest of the property, other vehicle parts and engines were found.

“The parts belong to different vehicles and are reported to have come from at least two other theft cases in Kwazakhele between October and December last year,” Beetge said.

Asked whether the house was potentially a chop shop, he said the possibility was being investigated.

“We have connected a farm robbery, hijacking and at least two car thefts to the premises,” he said.

“Whether this is their base of operations or merely a chop shop for stolen cars and other property, remains to be seen.”

Detectives are consulting with those investigating the farm robbery, and the vehicle identification section had been roped in to assist.