A co-owner of the vehicle fitness company, Neall Wicksteed, said, “Three people walked into our offices, while my wife and I were seated near the shop counter. One of the men pretended to be a customer and greeted me with a smile. At that point a second man walked in whilst a third man stood outside our offices looking around.
“When I spoke to him he pulled out a 9mm pistol and pointed it at me. The first man came up to us and also pulled out a weapon. The robbers ushered my wife and I to the back of our offices where an employee was working. They forced the three of us to lie face-down on the ground.”
Wicksteed added, “One of the robbers left the office to round up remaining employees who were working outside and forced them into the office. The robbers forced me to open the safe where the customers’ vehicle keys are kept and took keys for two double cab vehicles that were on our premises. The robbers stole valuable items from each of us then locked the front door and left. Once we heard them drive away we left through the back office door. I called Midrand police who arrived 20 minutes later.”
Wicksteed said that Canopy Centre had never been robbed before this incident. “We are not offering a reward as we suspect the vehicles may have been taken across the South African border,” he added.
Midrand police communications officer Constable Matome Tlamela said the robbers stole vehicles to the estimated value of R1 million. “The robbers stole two silver bakkies, a laptop and cellphones. No one has been arrested yet. Anyone with any information relating to this case can contact Midrand police,” said Tlamela.
Details: Midrand police, 011-347-1600.
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