Armed men rob Telkom
Robbers targeted Telkom's shop in The Avenues Shopping Centre this morning (January 22) and fled the scene with goods to the value of about R250 000.
Fidelity security officers Desmond Mathebula and Elvis Majozi thought it would be a normal working day, but to Majozi’s surprise, he noticed an armed robbery at the shop at around 9:56am.
He immediately sent a message to Mathebula about the incident.
“I pressed the panic button and ran to the exit of the centre into Fifth Avenue and stopped a policeman driving past, informing him about the robbery,” says Mathebula.
Springs police spokesman captain Johannes Ramphora says a KwaThema detective noticed the robbers jumping into a get-away car and followed them down Fifth Avenue, turning into Eighth Street and then into Sixth Avenue.
It is alleged there were about nine robbers jumping off the vehicle while the driver and his front passenger were still in the vehicle.
Ramphora says the two stopped just before Third Street and ran in different directions.
Mathebula ran all the way behind the KwaThema police vehicle trying to help catch these men.
His colleague Majozi caught up with him, saw one of the robbers. He tried to grab him as an EMPD officer arrived and arrested the thief.
“While one arrest took place at the top of Third Street, the KwaThema detective saw a community member pointing out the other robber and another arrest was made,” adds Ramphora.
The police recovered the stolen goods and found extra number plates in the white Nissan Hardbody double cab.
Ramphora says there was no licence disc on the windscreen and they suspect the vehicle was been stolen.
One of the arrestees was armed with a 9mm pistol which had the serial number filed off.
Ramphora is very grateful to the two security officers who were brave enough to chase the suspects.
“We want to thank all the members of the Springs police and the EMPD officer on the scene for their quick reaction and assistance,” concludes Ramphora.
The two arrested men will appear in court soon.
