Trio to Appear in Court After Swift Arrest in Pretoria North Armed Robbery
Three suspects are expected to appear before the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 6 March 2026, on charges of armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition following their arrest in connection with a bank-related robbery in Pretoria North.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the trio was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon, less than two hours after an elderly woman was robbed outside a bank in Pretoria North. It is alleged that the victim had just left the banking institution when she was approached by three armed suspects who escorted her and robbed her of a handbag containing cellphones, jewellery and an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects then fled the scene in a white VW Polo.
Local authorities were immediately alerted, prompting a coordinated manhunt. A joint operational team comprising SAPS Pretoria North Detectives, SAPS Highway Patrol, GAC Security, Tracker Connect and ABSA Bank investigators processed information received through a community group and GAC Security’s privately owned camera network. Based on the intelligence gathered, an operational plan was formulated and members were deployed to strategic positions along identified exit routes.
A vehicle matching the description of the suspects’ car was spotted and stopped by the operational team. One suspect was found inside the vehicle, which was fitted with false registration plates. Further investigation led officers to two houses in Zone 1, Ga-rankuwa and in the Orchards area, where two additional suspects were arrested. At each location, police recovered a firearm. One of the firearms is believed to be a service pistol with its serial numbers filed off.
Police seized the white VW Polo Vivo allegedly used in the commission of the crime, two pistols, false registration plates and several cellphones. The suspects were detained unharmed at a designated police station, and the vehicle was booked in for safeguarding and further investigation.
Pretoria North Station Commander, Colonel Nonzwakasi Julla, applauded the team for their swift response, stating that such collaborative efforts demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to stamp the authority of the state and remove illegal firearms and dangerous weapons from the streets to ensure community safety. The investigation is being led by SAPS Pretoria North Detectives.
About The Author
