Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Two suspected thieves accused of targeting clothing and cellphone shops at malls around Mbombela were arrested at the weekend by the police, who recovered goods worth thousands of rand.
Police have been on the lookout for the suspects who were known to drive around in a white VW Polo.
Acting on a tip-off, a police intelligence unit tracked down and arrested the suspects at Ilanga Mall.
The suspected shoplifters were said to be residents of KaNyamazane, Mbombela.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the suspects were targeting shops that sold cellphones and expensive clothing.
Brigadier Mohlala said the suspects were found with suspected stolen items that included jackets.
“The two suspects were reportedly caught red-handed in possession of suspected stolen items worth about R7 000 from Ilanga Mall,” Brigadier Mohlala said.
“The suspects were arrested after close surveillance was conducted following the allegations that they are involved in a string of shoplifting activities.”
“It is alleged that they further stole five jackets then concealed the items inside a paper bag lined with a foil to prevent tag detection on the exit door of the shop.”
Brigadier Mohlala said police investigations could link the suspects to similar activities at other shopping malls in Mbombela.
“The suspects might be possibly involved in other shoplifting cases at Riverside Mall,” Brigadier Mohlala said.
There was a possibility the suspects would be linked to other business robbery cases in which cellphones were stolen, the police said.
Reports of armed robberies in which a VW Polo was used as a getaway car were also being looked at to see if the arrested suspects were involved in previously reported cases.
The pair will appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
