WATCH: Four dead in Durban police shootout linked to Tongaat jewellery heist
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Outside the scene where four suspects were fatally wounded, three were injured in a shootout with police in Woodlands, South of Durban.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers
FOUR suspects were killed during a police shootout in Woodlands, Montclair, while seven others were arrested as authorities closed in on a gang believed to be responsible for the recent Tongaat jewellery store robbery.
Police are still searching for five suspects who managed to escape during the operation.
The suspects are believed to be part of a syndicate behind a series of business robberies in recent months.
The bust was part of an ongoing police operation targeting business robbery syndicates operating in and around the eThekwini district.
The suspects are believed to be linked to the robbery at Johnny’s Jewellers in Tongaat on Thursday, January 15.
According to police, they received information about the suspect’s whereabouts and proceeded to a private residence on Granville Road, which was being used as a rental property.
The suspects allegedly opened fire on police and a gunfight ensued.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the suspects were linked to the Tongaat jewellery store robbery.
“The suspects were linked to several cases of business robberies, including the robbery of a jewellery store in Tongaat this week. Police received a tip-off that the suspects were hiding at this private residence,” said Netshiunda.
He added police are continuing their search for at least five suspects who managed to escape during the operation.
Police have urged community members to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement as investigations continue.
Earlier this week, eight armed men executed a meticulously planned robbery at Johnny’s Jewellers, on Gopalall Hurbans, Tongaat, in under two minutes, escaping with an undisclosed amount of jewellery.
CCTV footage captured the brazen daytime heist.
According to Prem Balram, spokesperson for the private security company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the incident was captured on CCTV.
Balram said it had been alleged that the suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of gold jewellery.
“We encourage people to report suspicious persons without delay. In many robbery cases, we find that suspects had been loitering or acting suspiciously hours before the incident. This is unfortunately not reported to law enforcement,” he said.