Four suspected business robbers were arrested by police near Thembisa yesterday (Thursday) following the robbery of two shops in Dalpark.
According to Capt Pearl van Staad, spokesperson for the Brakpan SAPS, the incident unfolded around 9.50am when a gang of men entered a plumbing supply store along Nossob Street and blocked the door.
“One of them was carrying a pistol and everyone was ordered to lie down,” she said.
“The others demanded the safe be opened and after the manager opened it, they took their backpacks and stashed the money inside.
“They also demanded cellphones from the staff members and then ran out.”
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Van Staad told the Herald the robbers fired two shots in the air and went into an adjacent shop, where an undisclosed amount of cash was taken, as well as laptops and customers’ cellphones.
The robbers fled the scene in a Mercedes-Benz and a Volkswagen Polo, and drove off towards Wattville.
Police believe there were four men travelling in each vehicle.
It is understood the robbers failed to switch off one of the cellphones they had stolen and its owner was able to trace its location using a phone tracking app.
This information was relayed to police and the four men in the Mercedes-Benz were swiftly tracked down and arrested.
A pistol, 15 rounds of ammunition, cash, cellphones, laptops and a black leather jacket were found in the vehicle.
The men, aged between 30 and 44, will appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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Brakpan SAPS station commander Brig Fredl Jonck applauded the officers involved for the swift response and a job well done.
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