Eyewitness defies robber’s instruction
"As I was running I noticed two women walking in the direction of the liquor store. I told them not to go there as something was wrong."
Stephan Lehman
Saying no to the request of an armed robber could be potentially dangerous but to Mr Frank Ruwl*, an eyewitness to a Dowerglen business robbery on July 4, it allowed him to escape a possibly dangerous situation.
Mr Ruwl told the NEWS that he was about to walk into a liquor store when he saw a person lying on the floor of the store.
“As I was about to enter the store I looked a robber right in the eye.”
Mr Ruwl said the robbers were wearing similar overalls to the ones that were seen in a video of a business robbery that took place at another liquor store in Dowerglen on June 25.
“They were loading an old-school Bantam bakkie with bags filled with liquor,” said Mr Ruwl.
“The robber told me to lie on the floor, when I told him that I was not going to and when he turned to another person who I think had a gun, I ran away. As I was running I noticed two women walking in the direction of the liquor store. I told them not to go there as something was wrong. I ran into the Spar and got away.”
“An undisclosed amount of goods and cash were taken during a business robbery that took place in Dowerglen on July 4. More than six suspects were involved and a different vehicle was used in this robbery to that of the June 25 robbery,” said the spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Warrant Officer Jean Olckers.
“A member from the Edenvale Community Policing Forum (ECPF) said that six men robbed the store. After watching security camera footage, the member suspected that more men were outside keeping a lookout,” said Mrs Linda Mckenzie, ECPF chairperson following the most recent incident.
“The SAPS are currently investigating if this robbery is linked to the robbery that occurred on June 25,” said W/O Olckers.
“We urge businesses and residents to be aware and to report suspicious vehicles or individuals to the SAPS on 10111,” said W/O Olckers.
“Rather be safe than sorry.”
W/O Olckers said that suspicious behaviour includes:
Individuals lurking about, who appear to have no real purpose.
People who are sitting in cars for a long period of time.
People who are constantly looking around and looking over their shoulder.
Individuals putting strange questions to security guards and store managers.
*Name changed to protect the identity of the eyewitness.
