Fumbling criminals botch Redhill robbery

IN a bizarre armed robbery last week, at Malacca Road in Redhill, brazen robbers, posing as security guards began arguing among themselves and let their victim slip through their fingers.

Sanele Mazeka, a security guard, was at work on Saturday 26 April when he saw the company’s premises lights go off. According to Greenwood Park SAPS, Mazeka then decided to investigate and took his torch to see why the lights had gone off.

“He was then approached by two armed men who held him up and tied his hands and legs. He shouted for help,” said Lt Elvis Naidoo, spokesman for the station.

To Mazeka’s relief a security guard from a neighbouring premises heard his cries for help and shouted to him asking what was the problem. The alert armed men, according to police prevented Mazeka from answering and spoke on his behalf. “One of the robbers answered the neighbouring guard and said all was in order,” Lt Naidoo said.

While Mazeka lay on the floor the two armed robbers starting cutting the power lines to the company.

“At that moment the security company’s supervisor arrived at the scene and hooted for Mazeka to open the gate.” But the armed robbery became even more bizarre when the men began arguing among themselves. Police said the robbers at that point had forgotten about their victim. “He then managed to free himself and ran away,” Lt Naidoo said.

The robbers made off with a cell phone, torch and a panic button. No arrests have been made as yet.