A gang of armed men bombed two ATMs at the BP petrol station on Rondebult Road in Parkdene and fled with an undisclosed amount of money at about 02:30 on August 4.
According to an armed response officer, the suspects fired shots at the police and the security officers, who then returned fire.
“The suspects eventually retreated and fled the scene. No injuries were reported,” said the source.
Both ATMs were left badly damaged.
A manager of BP, who asked to remain anonymous, said the criminals bombed the ATMs and stormed into the BP shop and stole money and other items.
Cobus Redelinghuys, the owner of a property neighbouring the filling station, said he heard a loud bang at about 02:30 and assumed it was blasting from one of the mine dumps.
“I thought the zama zamas caused it until I heard the second blast. I then moved my family to safety in the house. I realised the sound was from the BP and that the ATMs had been bombed,” said Redelinghuys.
He said he then heard gunshots, and when he checked his community WhatsApp group, the group confirmed it was indeed an ATM bombing.
According to Redelinghuys, an ATM at the Sasol filling station was also bombed on August 1.
“I no longer feel safe living in Parkdene. There is a lot of criminal activity, like hijackings and burglaries,” he said.
When the Advertiser visited the scene later that morning, both ATMs had been removed.
No comment has yet been received from the SAPS.
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