A 53-year-old armed response officer was injured when he responded to a robbery in progress at a petrol station in Maryvlei last Friday.
The incident took place at around 03:00 at a Springs Road garage when two men threatened two petrol attendants at gunpoint.
“They were ordered in isiZulu to keep quiet or else they would be shot,” said Brakpan SAPS spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad.
The victims were taken to the bathroom on the premises and robbed of their jackets and cellphones.
“One of the suspects went to the shop and ordered the cashier to open the door. The cashier knew it was not the attendant on duty and pressed the panic button,” said van Staad.
“The suspect fired shots at the glass door. Once inside he ordered the cashier to open the office door, but the cashier refused.
“The suspect fired another shot at the bulletproof door. When the officer stopped at the garage, the suspect shot at the response vehicle. The officer managed to fire three shots back before the suspects ran away.”
The officer sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to the Life Dalview Hospital for medical attention.
Van Staad told the Brakpan Herald on Monday he was in a stable condition.
Two spent cartridges were found on the scene. Garage staff told police the robbers were armed with 9mm pistols – one silver and the other black.
No valuables or cash were stolen from the petrol station. Police are investigating cases of business robbery and attempted murder and a search is underway for the gunmen.
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