Police Foil Church Robbery Gang in Westdene Shootout

A dramatic police shootout in Westdene, Johannesburg, on Monday left one suspect dead and five others arrested. The suspects, linked to multiple church robberies across Gauteng, were found in possession of stolen musical instruments and unlicensed firearms.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that crime intelligence had been tracking the group, who were allegedly planning to rob a church in Florida. Officers spotted their Toyota Quantum in Sophiatown and attempted to intercept them. However, the suspects tried to escape, leading to a high-speed chase and gunfire exchange.

“The suspects opened fire on officers during the pursuit, and their vehicle ultimately crashed into a fence,” said Masondo.

Two of the five arrested suspects sustained injuries and are under police guard in hospital. Authorities recovered three firearms, ammunition, and a stolen music system valued at over R2 million from the vehicle.

Police are now conducting ballistic tests on the weapons and profiling the suspects to determine if they are connected to other crimes.

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