Police are still on a manhunt for at least eight suspects involved in a robbery that took place in the East Rand Mall on February 24.
SAPS spokesperson Capt Mavela Masondo said a gang arrived at the mall armed with rifles and handguns.
They held a security guard at gunpoint and took him as a hostage to a jewellery store in the mall.
“They forcefully gained entry and held the staff at gunpoint. They then took an undisclosed amount of jewellery,” said Masondo.
Police officers and security guards at the mall went to the scene and a shoot-out ensued between them and the gang.
“The suspects escaped and hijacked a Toyota Corolla near the taxi rank at the mall. The car was found abandoned near Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg,” said Masondo.
“There is a possibility that there was more than one getaway car due to the amount of suspects but we are still investigating.”
He added that one person was injured in the incident.
“A trolley pusher was hit by a bullet in the foot. He was treated by paramedics.”
Police are still investigating whether the robbery is linked to the cross pavement robbery that took place at the K90 last week and how the suspects managed to enter the premises with shotguns.
No arrests had been made.
*Tips on what to do in a mall robbery:
According to Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager for Fidelity ADT, knowing what to do in the event of a mall robbery could save your life.
“The golden rule if you ever are caught in the middle of a heist is to stay calm,” said Hattingh.
“Customers need to remain vigilant at all times and should always be on the lookout for any suspicious activities and be aware of the people around them.”
Fidelity ADT provides the following useful advice if you are in the store that is being robbed:
• Cooperate with robbers for your own safety. Listen to their instructions closely and follow their instructions
• Try and keep as calm as possible. Everyone reacts in a different way but try and breathe deeply until help arrives
• Do not use your cellphone while the robbery is in process, this could agitate the assailants
• Immediately try and find a sheltered spot and keep low on the ground
• Take note of the assailants to pass information on to the authorities, such as what they were wearing, any distinctive clothes, markings, jewellery etc. Try and remember what they look like, such as height, weight, etc.
• Ensure your children are kept close to you at all times. Do not let children wander off while you are shopping.
• Do not shop with large amounts of cash or valuables.
If you are not in the store being robbed:
• Speak with the store personnel to firstly close the roller shutter doors. This is also standard operating procedure in many malls and move to the back of the store, out of sight
• Try and find a store closest to you and secure yourself as described above
• Do not try and exit via the standard entry and exit points as these are the same points the robbers will be using. Many malls now have standard operating procedures to lock down the mall.
Hattingh said crime is becoming more sophisticated, with inside information playing an increasingly prominent role.
