Police in Motetema are on the hunt for a group of people believed to be bogus cops who attempted a business robbery at Tafelkop Mall in Limpopo.
The suspects pretended to be police officers when they pounced at the mall in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to reports, the security guards were on duty when the suspects arrived in a white classic VW Polo with a GP registration number and flashing blue lights.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba explained: “Allegedly the suspects were clad in police uniforms and armed with firearms.
“They then demanded to go inside the mall as they apparently received information regarding a planned criminal activity that was about to take place at the mall.
“They also made a request to enter the security control room to monitor cameras. Some of the security guards became suspicious and notified the police without the suspects noticing.”
Sharing more details on the robbery, Mashaba said that after a few minutes, one of the suspects received a call and thereafter they threatened and robbed the security guards of their cellphones, three two-way radios and a jacket.
“They quickly left the building and rushed to their vehicle and drove off, while some of them fled on foot to nearby shacks after noticing the police,” Mashaba added.
Reflector jacket found at the scene
Police recovered one SAPS reflector jacket from the scene. A case of attempted business robbery has since been opened for an investigation.
Limpopo police have made a desperate plea to people who have information that can lead to the arrest of the bogus cops to contact Sergeant Calvin Maluleke on 076 057 4315 or crime stop number on 08600 10111.
They can also go to the nearest police station or MySAPSApp.
Police said investigations are under way.
Mashaba said the police are also looking at the possibility that the group could be linked to other business robberies.
She said no one has been arrested yet. “However, we have the registration plates and we are already following various leads.”
During the release of crime statistics over a month ago, Police Minister Bheki Cele said contact-related and property-related crimes categories tracked lower over the quarter between April and June.
He said a significant drop in robberies at non-residential premises and burglaries at homes had been noticed during the reporting period
The statistics show that an estimated 238 000 incidences of home robberies occurred in 2022/23, representing 1% of all households in the country.
