POLOKWANE – Four suspected armed robbers’ luck ran out when their planned robbery of one of the owners of Mica Hardware in the Lifestyle Centre was intercepted by undercover police officers.
Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Nthobeng Phala, told Review that the police followed up on a tip-off that an armed robbery was planned for Monday, May 4. Undercover police officials were placed at the Lifestyle Shopping Centre, but nothing happened.”Being persistent, police officials went back the following day and managed to foil the robbers’ plans,” Phala said.
Usually an employee would be sent to the bank with the store’s takings and leave in a private vehicle with the money in an envelope folded into a newspaper. During the police’s undercover operation on Tuesday, the employee, who did not know that the police were watching out for robbers, took the money and climbed into his vehicle to go to the bank.
As he climbed into his vehicle, three men surrounded his vehicle and pointed firearms at him, while one of the men demanded the money. The success of the would-be robbers’ coup was short-lived when they were suddenly surrounded by armed undercover police officials and placed under arrest. Another suspect was also taken into custody a few minutes later.
The four suspects were due to appear before the Polokwane magistrate’s court later this week in connection with the attempted robbery, as well another robbery that took place just over a week ago when the owner of another store belonging to the same franchise fell victim to an armed robbery during which R55 000 was taken.
According to one of the managers of Mica Hardware, who did not wish to be identified, the company was very happy with the action taken by the police. “These people are brilliant and they did the operation without anyone knowing. The employee was attacked, but the robbers stood no chance as they were trapped as soon as they tried to rob him. It was like watching a movie in real life, and it makes us feel safer knowing that the men and women in blue are there even when we do not know about them,” he said.
“The Polokwane police would like to send out a message to all criminals that there will continue to be a zero tolerance attitude towards any and all crime in the city. We are committed to serve and protect,” Phala said.
