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PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS & VIDEO - Thanks to cooperation between Bitou crime fighters, an early morning robbery at a popular shopping centre in Plettenberg Bay was recently foiled and four suspects are behind bars.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said the incident happened at the Market Square Shopping Centre at about 06:00 on Sunday 10 September and the success was part of an intelligence-driven operation.

He said that Plettenberg Bay police and a local security company received information relating to a possible robbery taking place at the shopping centre in Beacon Way.

As a result, the integrated team was strategically deployed in and around the centre.

"They spotted and accosted the suspects at the entrance to the building. The men walked off and dropped two firearms, later established to be imitation firearms, in a trolley and fled," Spies said.

The team gave chase and apprehended the suspects. "The members continued searching the area, upon which they discovered a Mazda3, believed to be the getaway vehicle, with a CA registration number and two occupants." Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered additional registration plates inside the car. It was then established that the vehicle was hijacked in Delft, Cape Town last month. "The two occupants were subsequently arrested."

VIDEO: Plettenberg Bay police and security companies thwart armed robbery at Market Square shopping centre.

Spies said the four suspects are aged between 30 and 44; three are from Cape Town and the fourth from Plettenberg Bay.

They are facing charges of conspiracy to commit robbery as well as possession of stolen property. They will appear in court once charged. "More charges could be added as the investigation unfolds," Spies said.

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