Two occupants of a vehicle that matched the description of a getaway car used in a Free State bottle store robbery were arrested on firearms-related charges on Tuesday.
This comes after a pistol and ammunition were found inside the vehicle, according to Free State police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng.
Thakeng said the bottle store was robbed in Ventersburg on Monday.
The robbers forced their way into the store when the security gate was opened for a businessman from a local guest house. They ordered the owner and employees to lie on the floor while they stole whiskey, cognac, champagne, an undisclosed amount of cash, two cellphones, a camera monitor and cigarettes, before fleeing in a blue Toyota Etios.
The following day, police spotted a car that matched the description of the one used in the robbery.
“The vehicle was seen at a gas station at Riebeeckstad and was followed to Odendaalsrus, where Odendaalsrus Visible Policing members [stopped] the vehicle. A request was made to search the vehicle. While members were busy searching, a 9mm Norinco pistol with 31 live ammunition [rounds] were found inside the car,” Thakeng added.
The two occupants were arrested. They are both 42 years old and are from Rustenburg in the North West.
They are expected to appear in the Ventersburg Magistrate’s Court soon for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
