Armed robbers hold up pharmacist for two boxes of painkillers

Three men must have had severe headaches on Tuesday afternoon, holding up a pharmacist at the Joe Slovo clinic in Port Elizabeth for just two boxes of Panado painkillers.

DispatchLive spoke to an eyewitness who was at the clinic at the time.

“Three men, one armed with a gun, arrived just before three,” she told the publication.

“There were a few patients in the clinic and the nurses. One man waited outside and two went straight to the pharmacist. They pointed a gun at her and stole two boxes of Panado,” she continued.

Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha confirmed the incident, which he said was proof that “crime is getting out of hand”.

This is only the second-most ridiculous crime to have taken place in South Africa in the past year.

The Citizen reported in November that six thieves were wanted by the police after robbing the Theunissen Post Office on Wednesday and making off with the less-than-impressive sum of R192, which would amount to R32 each.

According to police spokesperson Sergeant Mamello Mokhuoane, the men allegedly tied up a security guard at 3am on Wednesday while they used a grinder to open the safe.

Mokhuoane was quoted by the Daily Sun: “Before fleeing the scene, the six suspects assaulted and threatened to kill the guard if he screamed. They made off with the sum of R192. A passerby found the security guard and called the police. A case of business robbery was opened for investigation.”

The incident reportedly left the post office staff amused as they discussed among themselves whether the thieves would be honourable and divide the cash equally.

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