A sports shop, which was opened on 30 March at the new Alex Mall in Tsutsumani, was allegedly robbed of cellphones at midday on 22 May by three suspects, one of whom escaped.
Police spokesperson, Captain Allie Kodisang said most of the phones, valued at approximately R300 000 were recovered in a bag in the suspects’ possession. Two of the suspects are in police cells while their accomplice fled on foot.
Kodisang said the robbery was the second at the Total Sports Shop after one that occurred in mid-April, followed by two others the same month at Sports Scene, another sports shop, and at the Checkers Supermarket where items of unspecified values were allegedly taken.
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Kodisang said the suspects entered the shop at noon with a bag containing other bags and pretended to be shoppers. Afterwards, they allegedly held the manager hostage at gunpoint and demanded that he open a safe which he did. As they loaded the cellphones into a bag, a security guard at the mall noticed what was happening and alerted his colleagues.
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When the suspects left the shop, the guards gave chase and arrested the two in the complex while their accomplice fled on foot. No shots were fired. The bags were retrieved and found to contain between 70 and 80 cellphones. The suspects were searched and two firearms with their serial numbers filed off.
A VW Polo reported stolen in Brooklyn, Pretoria and said to have been their getaway car, was found in the parking area.
Kodisang said the suspects claimed to be from Mamelodi, Pretoria.
Police are investigating to ascertain whether they are linked to the other incidents at the mall, or elsewhere. He said the arrests were a breakthrough, resulting from collaborations between the police and security agencies.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 431 7718/9.
Edited by Beryl Knipe
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