Athlone police cannot verify whether a syndicate of criminals targeting businesses and homes in the area is the work of the notorious ‘crowbar gang’.  Several attacks on the Athlone business district have taken place in the past few weeks, leaving the community in fear.

Athlone police spokesperson Captain Zeta Norman said they are in possession of surveillance from the various incidents but that the cases are not linked.

“At the moment the group cannot be verified as the crowbar gang, due to the fact that it is various types of criminals that are approaching various suburbs in the Athlone area,” she said.

“It is different suspects… we are busy investigating all possible leads to establish whether they are part of a syndicate or not.”

Norman added that the modus operandi of the suspects is similar and therefore it was easy to assume that they were all part of the same syndicate. She said possible informers that have witnessed incidents are still being interviewed.

Several businesses such as Elite Cash and Carry, MA Distributors, Jimmy’s Motorspares and The Lounge on Kromboom were targeted.

“All leads are being followed but none of the information regarding the investigation can be discussed at this present moment.”  VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)