Robber dies in shoot-out

AN armed robber met his match on Friday 15 November when the person he was robbing opened fire on him and his two accomplices.

According to Greenwood Park SAPS spokesman, Lt Elvis Naidoo, Petros Mvelase just withdrew money from a bank in uMngeni Business Park when he noticed a Nissan Hardbody was following him.

Mvelase then decided to stop in Rosary Road when three armed men stormed his car, opened his door and demanded the money he withdrew.

He gave the men the money and started running. While he ran away the robbers opened fire on Mvelase. He then shot back at them, shooting one of the robbers in the forehead.

“The other two robbers tried to pick up the shot robber to put him in their car, but he was too heavy. They left him lying in the road,” Lt Naidoo said.

Mvelase was also shot in the ankle and thigh. Emergency services rushed to the scene and tried to save the shot robber’s life.

Lt Naidoo said the robber and Mvelase were both taken to hospital, where the robber later died.

“No one has come forward to claim the robber’s body as yet and not further arrests have been made,” Lt Naidoo added.

He urged residents not to withdraw and carry large amounts of money and said residents should drive to the nearest police station if they suspect they’re being followed.

“If residents have to withdraw large sums of cash, they must ask their security company so escort them. We also don’t encourage residents to engage with criminals as there’s a good chance they could die in a shoot-out such as this,” he said.