Last night, at approximately 21h00, a Marshall Security Armed Response Officer was flagged down by a delivery biker on Umhlanga Rocks Drive, who reported that he had been robbed of his cellphone and other valuables at gunpoint at the traffic lights near Ashley Avenue. The suspects were travelling in a white Toyota Etios with no rear registration plate.
The vehicle’s description was immediately circulated to other Armed Response Officers. A short while later, officers spotted a white Toyota Etios without a rear registration plate travelling from Ardrossan Road onto Chris Hani Road in Avoca.
Officers began following the suspicious vehicle. Upon realising they were being followed, the suspects accelerated in an attempt to evade officers. Additional Marshall Security Armed Response Officers and members of the Special Operations Team (SOT) were immediately dispatched to assist.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Chris Hani Road and Victor Road, the suspects lost control and struck a kerb but continued driving into a dead-end road. During the escape, the suspects fired shots at Armed Response Officers, who returned fire in self-defence.
The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot into nearby bushes before jumping fences and moving through properties in the Redhill area.
An extensive search was conducted throughout the surrounding neighbourhoods by Marshall Security Armed Response Officers, members of the Special Operations Team, Greenwood Park SAPS, the Durban North SAPS Trio Crimes Unit and the Durban SAPS K9 Unit. Despite the coordinated efforts, the suspects managed to evade arrest.
Upon inspecting the abandoned vehicle, officers recovered an unlicensed firearm and several cellphones believed to have been stolen during robberies.
Further investigation established that the suspects had also allegedly robbed another motorist on Ben Nevis Road, stealing the victim’s cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash.
The abandoned vehicle, recovered firearm and other items found inside were transported to Greenwood Park SAPS for further investigation and processing.
Marshall Security commends the vigilance and decisive actions of its Armed Response Officers, whose immediate communication and proactive patrols led to the identification and interception of a vehicle matching the description provided by the initial robbery victim.
The coordinated efforts of the Special Operations Team, Armed Response Officers and SAPS highlight the importance of effective information sharing, teamwork and close collaboration when responding to serious and potentially life-threatening criminal incidents.
Marshall Security remains committed to working closely with SAPS to combat violent crime, support criminal investigations and protect the communities we serve.
