MEN DRESSED AS COPS ROB FAMILY

A PHOENIX businesswoman claims that men dressed in police uniforms held her family at gunpoint in their home.

Private security company KZN VIP Unit spokesperson Glen Naidoo said according to reports, a white VW Polo sedan with NDM registration plates entered the home in Clayfield. He said the men allegedly stated they were from the SAPS Organised Crime Unit.

The businesswoman’s husband, who did not want to be named, said when he drove on to his driveway on Wednesday night he was approached by three men while three others lurked in the yard.

They ran into the house and ordered everybody to lie down on the floor. They took the victim to his bedroom and demanded he hand over the keys to the safe. The men ransacked the rooms and they took his Breitling watch collection, laptops and phones.

The businesswoman said a month ago they received a phone call from an anonymous person who said he was based at a police station in Pietermaritzburg. She said the caller said he was investigating a case of armed robbery that one of their staff was involved in. The caller said he would like to interview the couple.

“We received this call close to midnight. We had our doubts and told the caller to meet us at the Phoenix police station. The caller said he would phone to confirm but he did not. After the robbery we heard the car was seen on numerous occasions outside our business premises. I think they followed my husband home. When they approached my husband they produced a piece of paper. They said it was a search warrant because we are suspected of dealing in narcotics. My husband called me but then the call was cut,” she said.

Two of the men wore police uniforms including bulletproof vests and gun holsters. They took the house and vehicle keys.

The NDM (Natal Durban Metro) registration plates are used by ethekwini Municipality. Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said they would investigate the allegations. He said the incident would also be investigated by the SAPS. Mayisela said all city fleet vehicles were fitted with tracking devices.

Phoenix SAPS were investigating a case of robbery. Spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed they had received a report that men posing as police officers approached the victim and requested to search the premises.

“The suspects became aggressive. They ransacked the house and took jewellery, cellphones and watches, and drove away,” Gwala said.

Last month, Kwanyuswa acting chief Makhosandile Ngcobo was kidnapped from his Nkulu Ward home at gunpoint by men wearing police uniforms. Ngcobo has still not been found. Gwala said detectives were appealing for information regarding Ngcobo’s whereabouts. She said a case of kidnapping and robbery had been opened at Ezinqoleni police station.

In February, a 41-year-old man was arrested at Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for fraud and for impersonating a police officer.

It was reported that the suspect, who called himself a police captain, approached a man accused of murder and promised to make the docket disappear, at a fee, so he can walk free.