Serial robber linked to 42 armed heists arrested near OR Tambo Airport
According to The South African, a decades-long criminal saga came to a halt this week when South African Police Service (SAPS) officers arrested a 64-year-old man allegedly linked to 42 armed robberies dating back to 1998. The arrest follows a brazen incident near OR Tambo International Airport, where three senior police officers from another African country were targeted.
Senior officers held at gunpoint
According to SAPS, the officers were traveling in an e-hailing vehicle along the R24 highway when four men in a silver Suzuki Swift forced the car to stop near the Barbara off-ramp. Witnesses say the suspects posed as police officers before robbing the general and his accompanying officers of money, cellphones, and watches, a bold act that stunned both local commuters and the law enforcement community.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions from security-conscious passengers and airport staff, many praising the swift response of SAPS in apprehending a suspect with such an extensive criminal record.
Swift police work leads to arrest
Within hours, officers traced the vehicle and arrested the alleged serial robber, impounding the Suzuki Swift. Investigators revealed that the car had been repeatedly used in crimes along the R24 corridor, marking it as a signature vehicle for the suspect’s long-running operations near the airport precinct.
A criminal history spanning decades
During the investigation, police linked the suspect to 42 additional cases involving armed robbery, impersonating police officers, possession of unlicensed firearms, and fraud. SAPS described the arrest as a major blow to a suspected syndicate that had terrorized travelers and local communities for years.
The suspect is set to appear in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 3 March, while authorities continue searching for three other accomplices believed to have been involved in the OR Tambo heist.
A reminder for travelers and locals
The arrest underscores the ongoing risks in and around busy transport hubs like OR Tambo Airport, highlighting the importance of vigilance, using verified transport services, and reporting suspicious activity. For many commuters, the incident has sparked conversations on social media about personal safety and the challenges law enforcement faces in tackling long-running criminal networks.
{Source: The South African}
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