Durban – A Phoenix resident shot dead a robber during a hold up at his home on Longcroft Drive on Tuesday.
It is alleged that in recent months a gang of robbers have been conducting a reign of terror in Phoenix by holding up homeowners and their families in the early hours of the morning said Marlan Naidoo a spokesman for a private security company, GBH Security and Training who had responded to the robbery.
Naidoo alleged that one of the robbers wore a jacket that had been taken from a previous house robbery in Phoenix.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said is that at 2.20 am the family members were asleep in their house when four men brandishing firearms entered the premises.
“The owner took cover and managed to take his firearm. A shoot-out ensued and one suspect sustained gunshot wounds to the body. He was declared dead at the scene. An unlicensed revolver was found next to the body of the deceased suspect,” Gwala said.
Charges of robbery, attempted murder and an inquest are being investigated by Phoenix SAPS.
The Longcroft incident took place approximately 220 meters from the Phoenix police station.
“This is definitely the same syndicate conducting a spate of robberies in the area,” Deodutt said.