An armed robbery occurred at the Windsor City Supermarket on Beatrice Street and Dukes Avenue at 9pm on 3 November.
According to Linden Police Station spokesperson Captain Walter Spencer, a man entered the supermarket and asked the cashier if he was allowed to smoke inside the shop, to which the cashier replied that he could not.
WARNING: Watch out for a possible kidnapper
“Two minutes later, the suspect came back into [the supermarket] pointing a firearm at the cashier and his brother [who was behind the till as well],” said Spencer. Another man then entered the store with a firearm and demanded that customers lie down.
The two suspects ran away from the scene after stealing about R10 000 in cash and goods, including cigarettes and a cellphone. Spencer explained that no customers were willing to provide a statement due to fear of intimidation.
“The difficulty that we face is that the suspects are not strangers to the locals and we struggle to get statements,” added Spencer. The business did have CCTV, but the footage was of poor quality and badly positioned, and the suspects were wearing hats.
The police urged businesses to install high-quality CCTV systems. “What does help is proper CCTV to assist in arrests because the footage is part of the owner’s statement, thus filling the gap left by witnesses that feel intimidated.”
Spencer suggested that businesses in close proximity of each other such as those on Dutchesses Avenue and Beatrice Street, should start a WhatsApp group.
