Gauteng police have launched a manhunt, following Monday night’s armed robbery at a jewellery store at Menlyn Shopping Mall in Pretoria.
Police spokesperson, Collette Weilbach says four armed men overpowered security guards and smashed the window of a jewellery store. They stole watches and cellphones before fleeing in two vehicles.
Even though it is back to business at Menlyn Shopping Mall staff and employers of the jewellery store, attacked by armed robbers on Monday night, are still reeling from shock of what many in the mall described as an unusual incident.
The robbers reportedly made off with expensive watches including, the Rolex brand and a consignment of cell phones.
The daring robbery left both shoppers and employees at the mall shocked as they had to run for cover.
“We actually identified four armed guys. Two I think had riffles and we ran into safety. What we did was we locked store doors and we ran for cover. After a few minutes there were two more shots that we heard but unfortunately we couldn’t see because we were hiding and stuff so that we can protect ourselves. We believe that they won’t come back today, not any time soon but what we need to do is just to tighten the security in the mall and then just make sure that everybody, the workers including the shoppers are safe as well,” says a man who heard gunshots before the robbers fled the scene.
The manager of a cosmetic shop next door says one of her workers had to consult the doctor, because of shock.
“I’m actually dealing with my staff. She’s the one that was here and she is quite traumatised. She’ll be here in 15 minutes time. She’s gone to the doctor and she’ll come in and the sad part is it was her first day here. She’s from KZN.”
Some workers, who witnessed the robbery, did not show up for work as a result of the trauma they suffered. Mbalenhle Ngwenya, manager of a clothing store, which is few metres away from the crime scene, says she has arranged counselling for her affected worker.
“We are considering taking her for counselling. We spoke over the phone. She was in shock she even left her bag inside the store. She left here running. What she told me yesterday is that as soon as she heard shooting she locked herself in the store room and then once it had stopped she quickly rushed out of the store.”
Police spokesperson Weilbach says the robbers fired shots before they fled with an unknown quantity of jewellery and cell phones.
“There after they smashed the display window of the Vault Store and took undisclosed amount of cell phones. On their way out the security officers tried to stop them and they fled in two vehicles, one of them a BMW. They then fired shots at the security officers but luckily no one was injured. Trauma support was arranged for all the security officers, the staff and shoppers.”
Two similar incidents were reported at the Groove Shopping Mall recently. Menlyn Centre Management says investigations are underway to establish how the robbers gained unrestricted access into the mall.
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