The pursuit of a stolen cell phone by members of the Motherwell police in Gqeberha led to the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and a possible breakthrough in a series of armed robberies that have plagued the area over the past week.
Spokesperson, Captain Andre Beetge, said members responded to a complaint of a street robbery at Nkolo Street, in Unit 9 in Motherwell at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday after a woman reported that her phone had been stolen.
According to Beetge, they found the alleged culprits "leisurely seated" in front of a shop on the same street at 22:15.
The woman accompanied police to the scene and positively identified the assailants as those who had robbed her.
"Upon arresting and searching the suspects, they were found in possession of a replica firearm (gas-operated), prompting the escalation of charges to armed robbery.
"While this was taking place, an armed robbery case was also being opened at a petrol station in NU9.
"The suspect's clothing description matched that of the robbery, as well as the replica firearm used to commit the robbery," said Beetge.
He said a team of investigators are probing a possible connection between the two and a series of armed robberies in the Unit 9 area over the past week.
District Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata warned the public that police treat the possession of a replica firearm in the say way they if the firearm was real.
The suspects, aged 28 and 29, will appear in court soon.
