Armed robber nabbed by Neighbourhood Watch

A TRIO of brazen gun-wielding robbers got more than they had bargained for last night when they targeted West End Liquors.

The gang of thieves, who had traveled from Dundee to implement their criminal activity, were allegedly armed with 9mm pistols, which they used to hold up staff at the liquor store. The robbery was interrupted however, when a last minute patron arrived.

According to the patron, who managed to escape unharmed, the door at the entrance was closed, but not locked, when he arrived at 7:50pm, despite the fact that the store was only due to close at 8:00pm. He entered the store, unaware of the situation which was unfolding behind the closed door. The reaction of the staff member behind the counter alerted him that something was not quite right. His suspicion was confirmed when one of the armed robbers emerged from the aisle, pointing his pistol at him and beckoning to him to come closer.

Fortunately his reaction was quick and he made a run for the door before he could be detained by the thugs who, at this stage, were in the process of attempting to locate the shopowner’s keys, as they were planning to steal his vehicle to make their escape. The startled customer immediately alerted the security company who, in turn, contacted Vryheid Neighbourhood Watch for assistance.

The armed gang hastily fled on foot, following the interruption.

Neighbourhood Watch arrived at the scene within minutes of the call and immediately set about searching for the thieves, based on the description which had been given by witnesses, eventually apprehending one of the suspects near the park just on the outskirts of town, where the Magodo River intersects the R33 toward Dundee. At this point, the other two criminals were nowhere to be found.

Neighbourhood Watch members took the apprehended robber back to the scene of the crime, where he was positively identified by a shop assistant who had been present at the time of the robbery. Following the affirmative identification, a search ensued for the remaining thieves but proved fruitless, despite thorough investigation of the relevant areas.

It was later discovered, after police took further control of the scene, remanding the robber into custody, that things could very well have taken a turn for the worse had the second Neighbourhood Watch vehicle not arrived when it did.

According to a statement from the captured crook, who allegedly “sang like a canary” following his arrest, the other two thugs were laying in wait in a nearby ditch when he was apprehended. Their escape plan had been to use him as a decoy to lure some unsuspecting motorist to his aid at the side of the road with the intention of hijacking a vehicle with which to return home.

Police are currently in pursuit of the remaining two criminals, having received a tip off as to their probable whereabouts.