MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARD) – The quick actions of the police’s “Tekkie Squad” led to the arrest of four illegal Zimbabweans and a number of stolen fire-arms on Thursday last week.

The four Zimbabweans, all in their mid-twenties, were apprehended after the Tekkie Squad followed up on information received. The squad was established in January this year and is a sub-division of the Crime Prevention Unit. The squad specializes in “tracing” operations.

Following the arrest of the four suspects in the vicinity of the municipal dumping site, several firearms, including three rifles and a shotgun, as well as a large number of R4 and .22 ammunition, were recovered. Some of the rifles were reported stolen locally. A DVD player was also recovered, as well as a practice rifle grenade.

The four suspects were charged with the illegal possession of fire-arms and stolen good. In the meantime, the police are also investigating the possibility of linking the men to several other criminal cases in the area, including housebreaking and theft. A case of rape, robbery and attempted murder is also being investigated against the men. Police said, however, that it is difficult to say at this stage whether the men can be connected to the farm attack on the Wiedecks on their farm further along the road. At the time of going to press the police still had to confirm whether or not the men have appeared in court. They remain in custody.