Three male suspects held the store manager of a shop in Mayfield Square, Putfontein, at gunpoint and robbed the store of cash, cellphones and several items of clothing, on Wednesday morning (March 9) at around 9am.
“A brave business owner at the mall who witnessed the robbery jumped at the driver’s side of the robbers’ getaway vehicle and held on to the steering wheel resulting in the vehicle losing control and being rendered immobile after hitting a kerb near the exit of the mall,” said EMPD spokesperson, Lieut-Col Wilfred Kgasago.
“The suspects were forced to abandon the vehicle and bolted on foot.
“All three suspects fled on foot, disappearing into the nearby Mina Nawe informal settlement.
“Determined to apprehend the culprits, EMPD and SAPS members launched a manhunt which by midday bore fruit as all three suspects were arrested with cash estimated at R9 000, 69 cellphones, a number of jackets and an unlicensed 9mm pistol retrieved.”
Kgasago added that the white Kia Rio used as the getaway car had been hijacked earlier that day in Germiston.
The trio, all in their early 30s, were charged at the Putfontein police station for armed robbery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
They are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court soon.
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