Cii New, Pic: Looklocal.co.za – July 9, 2012

A third suspect has been caught by police and two others lay dead after a major house robbery was foiled in the Lenasia Extension 1 area, south of Johannesburg, this morning. 3 more suspects are reportedly on the run.

Journalist, Zahid Asmal, told Cii News that police have advised residents to remain indoors.

According to the Rising Sun journalist on the scene, Daphne Mnguni, police apparently responded to a call of a robbery in progress Swan Street.

As they accosted the armed men a shootout broke leaving two robbers dead. One robber reportedly shot himself. There were initially conflicting reports of whether three or four men were involved. One police officer from the Soweto Tactical Unit has been reportedly shot in the leg.

“Apparently three to four guys started robbing a house on Swan Street, then they jumped to Lark street and then they went to Albatross Street. One guy shot himself as he was apprehended by the police. The second one was shot by the police and a police helicopter is searching for the others.”

A fourth suspect was interrogated, but according to Mnguni, he was found to have no involvement to the crime.

The suburb of Lenasia has been rocked by a series of house break-ins in recent weeks. Many of these attacks occurred during the mid-morning period.