Local veterinary clinics seem to be the new target for thieves with two armed robberies over the last three weeks at two different clinics.
First incident
Kritzinger Road Veterinary Clinic, in 94 Kritzinger Road, was robbed on December 29, between 2.30pm and 3pm.
According to Nkosinathi Mamba, receptionist, a neatly dressed man came in to ask about consultation fees for his sick dog.
The man then left the vet and about five minutes later he and another man returned.
“With our gate I have to check who it is and then press a button to open the gate. When I went to see who it was, one of the men pointed a firearm at me demanding me to open the gate,” said Mamba.
The other man then managed to open the gate with his knife.
“Both entered the building and immediately began to search the reception looking for money, but there wasn’t any. They then told me to take them to the doctor.”
After Mamba took the men to the doctor they told them to lie on the ground.
They got away with a cellphone and a blood work computer worth R300 000.
“These men look like your day-to-day customers. I remember one of them had stitches on one of his cheeks,” said Mamba.
A case of armed robbery was opened at the Alberton SAPS.
Second incident
Elsa van der Walt, receptionist at Randhart Veterinary Clinic, had the exact same experience as Mamba on January 4 at 3.30pm.
A man also came to the clinic to ask about consultations fees for his sick dog and came back with his friend.
“I remembered the guy and thought he was back to bring his dog in, so I opened the gate.
“They both came in and pointed a firearm at me requesting me to open the safe. I can still remember the one saying that I should not panic or scream,” said van der Walt.
After van der Walt opened the safe they took all the cash, two gold necklaces and a diamond ring.
“I remember that I could not get one of my rings off my finger. They just told me to leave it.”
They then took van der Walt to the back of the clinic where one of the general workers was.
They kept on asking where the doctor was, but in the meantime the doctor pressed the panic button. While they were at the back, they left the clinic.”
They also stole the general worker’s last R400 cash he had on him.
“I am just so thankful for how things turned out. I mean, it could have been much worse,” said van der Walt.
She also told the RECORD the men were middle aged, but she can’t really remember their exact faces.
A case of armed robbery was opened at the Alberton SAPS.
Another incident
On December 7, a laptop and a cellphone were stolen from the Brackenhurst Veterinary.
According to Sharon Hudson, receptionist, no one was in the office when two men stole the laptop and cellphone.
“However, I do not think that the men who stole articles here at the Brackenhurst Vet are the same who robbed Kritzinger Road Veterinary Clinic and Randhart Veterinary Clinic.”
A case of theft was opened at Brackendowns SAPS.
