3 held after smash-and-grab leads to car chase

Johannesburg - Three people were arrested on the N1 highway in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening after a smash-and-grab incident, the city's metro police said.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said two of the suspects allegedly smashed a car's window on the 14th Avenue on-ramp shortly after 19:00 and got into a Mercedes-Benz, which sped off.

Metro police officers in the area chased the Mercedes north along the highway and cut it off at the Malibongwe on-ramp, about 10km away. The duo and the driver were arrested and taken to the Florida police station.

Minnaar said it was unclear whether they had stolen anything after smashing the car's window. Nothing had been found on them.

"They might have thrown away whatever they took during the pursuit. Most of the time they are on foot."

Minaar said this was the first incident he was aware of where the suspects allegedly used a getaway car after a smash-and-grab.