A gang of armed robbers who targeted the local Kwikspar on Friday night, 19 January, fled with R117 000 worth of goods and money.
Manager Dwayne Andrews said staff are receiving treatment after the incident that left the entire community in shock.
Police and security guards were caught in the middle of a suburban war that started in Windsor East and ended in the front yard of a Ruiterhof family home.
The nine suspects, who were on the run after they robbed the Kwikspar, also shot a teenager before hijacking the family’s car. The robbers fled towards Ruiterhof, where a gunfight ensued with law enforcement officers in Nicolyn Street. Community Support Services security guard Senzo Mpungose was shot twice, but he returned fire and hit one of the suspects.
Andrews said the robbers were not in a hurry and they were calm. They asked the supervisor to take them to the safe. Other gang members went straight to the cigarette storage area.
“This type of violent crime has never happened before, but the store often has to deal with petty theft,” Andrews said.
He also mentioned that the community felt that Linden police were not doing enough. He explained that community members started throwing rocks at the suspects because police were not reacting.
“I went to Linden police and waited for over two hours to give an affidavit. It seems like no one cares.”
Andrews said Spar is, however, taking the matter very seriously.
Randburg Sun contacted Spar head office for comment. The story will be updated as soon as we receive comment.
Ward 98 councillor, Beverley Weweje, said this was one of the biggest robberies in Windsor East. But yet, she said, it seems like it wasn’t prioritised.
Both Weweje and Andrews said they understood that one of the police dockets have disappeared. Linden police spokesperson, Captain Walter Spencer, however, said this is not true. He added that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is now also investigating the crime. “When the Hawks are involved it is a priority crime,” he said.
The Hawks have yet to confirm that further arrests were made after the incident, but Spencer said Linden police are also still involved in the case.
Andrews said the shop will now be fenced off for better security. Weweje said surrounding business owners and residents, will be engaged more to deal with the security issues at hand.
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