UPDATE: 12.30pm
Cresta Shopping Centre management has committed to ensuring the safety of tenants and shoppers. “The security and safety of our shoppers and tenants is a top priority for Cresta management and our security teams will continue in our efforts to make the centre a safe environment where our tenants and shoppers feel safe,” said Virginia Bester, Cresta Shopping Centre’s general manager.
According to a statement issued by the mall the robbery took place at about 9.30am
Mall security managed to apprehend some of the suspects, who are being detained for further questioning.
Spokesperson for Linden Police Station, Takalani Matumba confirmed that one suspect was shot in the leg outside of the mall. The suspect was transported to hospital.
UPDATE: 11.45am
Captain Mavela Masondo, spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Police confirmed that three suspects had been arrested following an armed robbery at Totalsports at Cresta Shopping Centre this morning. The suspects targeted the shop for cellphones, which can be bought at the store.
According to Masondo, no shots were fired inside the store itself, but a shootout did ensue between security officers and the suspects, outside of the mall.
Masondo confirmed that police were indeed worried about recent mall robberies and have committed to increasing police visibility at malls.
Just last month, Cresta shopping centre was again targetted by criminals. During that robbery, criminals, pretending to be customers, robbed the Edgars Connect store.
Read more here.
MORE COLLABORATION
Founder of community crime group, eBlockwatch, Andre Snyman has called for more collaboration between relevant stakeholders when it comes to crime in shopping malls.
“Crimes in malls have the potential to blow up into very dangerous situations. Security guards are normally armed, and the number of people in the vicinity make for a less ‘controllable’ outcome for the criminals.
“I believe that security companies should not only be based in certain areas, they should have circles of security that can actually catch these guys, once the trigger has been hit. Better coordination is what is needed in these cases,” said Snyman.
INITIAL REPORT 11am
A shop at Cresta Shopping Centre has again been targeted by armed robbers this morning.
According to Linden police spokesperson, Constable Takalani Mathumba, the robberies occurred and at a Totalsports.
One suspect has been arrested and Cresta Shopping Centre management will be releasing a statement shortly.
A Randburg Sun Journalist on the scene has confirmed that Totalsports has closed its doors. Police are currently gathering evidence and taking statements from eyewitnesses.
Scary at #Cresta today with robbery, was in there when the perps ran past the store I was in with my daughter, with their guns.
— Jana Tait (@taitjana) May 15, 2018
UPDATE ROBBERY AT CRESTA : IT WAS AT TOTALSPORTS. 1 PERPS NAILED THUS FAR. pic.twitter.com/F7cvsC1rqr
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) May 15, 2018
BOLO:
*Business Robbery in progress – shots fired
*Perpetrators still inside site
*Shoprite, Cresta Shopping Centre, Cnr DF Malan and, Republic Rd, Cresta, Randburg, Johannesburg, GP @Abramjee @shitspotter— kakspotter 🇿🇦 (@kakspotter) May 15, 2018
This is a developing story. More details will be published as they become available.
ALSO READ: Shots fired during business robbery at Cresta
