Seven suspects have been arrested following an armed robbery that took place on Tuesday afternoon at Clearwater Mall, a popular Johannesburg shopping centre.
Two police officers were shot while suspects were busy making their escape. However, the suspects paid for their crime.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that seven suspects were arrested after a jewellery store was robbed at gunpoint.
“Three suspects were shot and injured,” she said. “A speedy recovery to two Saps [South African Police Service] officers who were wounded during the shootout. Four firearms [were] seized.”
Clearwater Mall confirmed the robbery at “one of our jewellery stores” on Facebook.
“The suspects fled with an undisclosed number of items. No physical injuries were sustained,” the mall said.
“We are working closely with the Saps in investigating this matter, as the safety of our customers and staff is of utmost importance to us.”
At the time of the incident, security company Suburban Control Centre quickly warned residents to avoid the mall and surrounding streets.
“Saps and multiple services are on the scene,” the security company posted on social media.
“One officer has been shot. Five suspects are still at large, used a Silver Honda Accent,” it wrote before providing the number plate of the vehicle allegedly used in the crime.
Reza, an account dedicated to sharing crime news on social media, quickly tweeted that the robbery took place at a jewellery store and four suspects have been arrested so far.
The account Moms Investing posted a video of the jewellery store that was broken into, while Healthy Lunchpacks took another video and posted photos of the parking area of the mall and a bullet hole in a car’s windscreen.
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