MBOMBELA – Five robbers, with a taste for perfume and toys, were apprehended shortly after robbing two stores in the brand-new wing of Crossing Centre early on Sunday morning. They were caught thanks to the vigilance and expertly executed actions of Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit and the police. Also read: Shop attendants in I’langa Mall robbed at gunpoint
It was business as usual on Sunday at the two affected stores, Mopani Pharmacy and Toy Zone. A few bullet holes in neighbouring shops’ windows and crime markings on the pavement were still visible.
The incident happened occurred around 04:00 when three vehicles entered the centre. They were confronted by an official of Hi-Tech Guards, who was forced to the ground and held at gunpoint by one of the suspects, while the others made their way to the shops.
At roughly the same time, the suspects hit the two stores. Carrying large, empty grain bags, they smashed the shops’ glass doors and gained entry.
This triggered the alarm, but that did not deter them and within minutes the bags were filled to the brim with stolen items.
Bottles of perfume worth thousands of rand from Mopani, and toys ranging from Xbox’s to PlayStations and Hoverboards, worth an undisclosed amount of money, were loaded into two identical Mazda sedans and a bakkie.
“It was a very well planned heist. They knew exactly what they were looking for,” said Mr Nico Grobler, operational manager of Hi-Tech Security.
Hi-Tech received the alarm signal at 04:40 and shift manager of the armed response unit, Mr Martin van Staden, reacted. He aproached the suspects as they were loading the bags in the vehicle and a shoot-out ensued. Van Staden shot at, and managed to successfully penetrate one of the tyres on one sedan. Windows in Kingsmead and Trappers were damaged in the shoot-out, but no one was injured. Van Staden called for the Rapid Response Unit’s backup and upon its arrival a pursuit started, but the deflated tyre did not bring an end to the chase.
The suspects chose to flee via the R40 towards Barberton, and by the time the robbers reached the first hairpin bend, the tyre had come off the rim. The high-speed chase came to a end as both sedans left the road. The police arrived shortly afterwards. Five suspects were arrested and another five jumped the game fence next to the road and fled.
Most of the Mopani goods were recovered, but the bakkie carrying some of the booty from Toy Zone, managed to get away.
While authorities were at the R40 scene, an orange SUV with three occupants travelling towards Barberton stopped, took photos and displayed very aggressive behaviour. After they were asked to leave, they drove a few metres forward, turned around and returned to the scene.
“Have you still got ammunition left?” Grobler asked the armed-response unit members, Messrs Martin van Staden, David Sekwela, Berndon Beukes and Danie Erasmus. The police warned them for a third time to leave the scene after which they sped off. They were later apprehended by Barberton SAPS and are being investigated for possible involvement in the crimes. Sekwela and Beukes went to track the suspects who got away, but could not find them.
Also read: VIDEO: Escaped pig wreaks havoc at Crossing Centre
“We have good reason to believe that the suspects came from Gauteng, even though they had false number plates and licence discs,” said Grobler. Even though the investigation is still ongoing, there is good reason to believe that the same suspects targeted Mopani’s branch at I’langa in March this year, as there were numerous similarities.
“In this process our Hi-Tech Lowveld contingency plan was mobilised,” said
Mr Johnny Kerswill, managing director of Hi-Tech Lowveld. Grobler added that this was a huge success in the fight against crime.
“The reaction of Hi-Tech and the SAPS was speedy and diligent. We are thankful for the arrests and also thankful that all the goods stolen from Mopani were recovered,” said its managing director, Mr Robin Gibbs. Manager of Toy Zone, Mr Dominique Brummer, who has never been affected by crime in the Lowveld, couldn’t believe how fast the suspects took what they wanted and fled.
“Thank you to Hi-Tech and the SAPS who reacted equally fast to take these guys down,” he said.
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