MOKOPANE – THE Engen filling station on the corner of Dudu Madisha and Nelson Mandela Drive was targeted by six armed robbers in the early hours of Monday morning, and was later found to be part of a series of filling station robberies.

According to eye-witnesses, it was just after midnight when a BMW pulled up to the filling station and four heavily armed men with balaclavas left the vehicle. One of the remaining two men remained outside to watch for any disturbances and the driver remained in the vehicle. The four armed men rushed into the filling station store and forced the two cashiers to empty their tills. They ordered everyone to lie down on the floor.

The men then used explosives to blow open the drop safe and also told one of the employees to fill up their vehicle with fuel.

According to an employee at the filling station who wished to remain anonymous, there were nine employees on duty at the filling station at the time of the incident.

The security guard activated the panic button and a reaction officer from Suricat Security responded.

During an interview with Bosveld, the reaction officer, Obed Rafapha, said when he arrived at the scene, the suspects opened fire on his vehicle and he immediately retreated, calling for backup including the Mokopane police and emergency medical services.

‘About 22 bullets penetrated my vehicle,  I was treated for cuts and abrasions caused by the implosion of the car windows as the bullets struck them’

“About 22 bullets penetrated my vehicle and I was later taken to Voortrekker Hospital where I was treated for cuts and abrasions caused by the implosion of the car windows as the bullets struck them,” Rafapha said.

No one sustained any critical injuries, but two Engen employees were treated for shock.

Bosveld took photos at the scene some hours after the robbery.

The store suffered a great deal of damage due to the explosion and a R100 000 was stolen from the drop safe.

According to Mokopane police spokesperson, Const Mmadikgale Masingi, no arrests had been made as yet and the investigation was ongoing.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto confirmed that two other filling stations in Polokwane were also robbed by six armed men in a BMW who used the same modus operandi.

“We are investigating the possibility that it could either be the same group of suspects or that there is a link between these robberies.”