R19 000 taken in Durban North restaurant robbery

TWO men armed with knives, stormed a popular Durban North restaurant on Thursday night and robbed the manager and staff of their valuables and R19 000 in cash. The robbery occurred at about 10.35pm, as staff of the popular restaurant were closing. It’s believed the men ambushed staff at the rear entrance of the Mackeurtan Avenue restaurant.

“The men, both armed with knives, pushed the men back into the Ocean Basket restaurant and threatened to kill the staff if they didn’t comply. They were ordered to open the safe and the men fled with cash and cellphones.

“They were picked up by a white Nissan bakkie waiting outside the restaurant. Thankfully there were no patrons there at the time of the robbery,” Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the station said.

In July last year, the restaurant was robbed in broad daylight, as three armed men held up staff and made off with R20 000 and five cellphones.

The incident is the third armed robbery in Durban North and uMhlanga following the incidents on Chartwell Drive and the stabbing of an elderly resident on Fairway yesterday.

Blue Security’s operations director, Brian Jackson, urged residents and business owners to be vigilant as criminals were clearly prowling the area seeking opportunities to target homes and businesses.

“Always report any suspicious activity to the police and to your security company as doing so sends a strong signal to criminals that there is a high risk that they will be caught if they break the law. Being vigilant and assisting law enforcers with information can go a long way to prevent crime,” he said.