Armed robbers target Big M Liquor Store in Delmas
“As I realised that I was midst of a possible crime I got out of my vehicle to assist and at that moment a second bullet flew past me.”
The Big M Liquor Store, situated opposite the Indian Plaza in First Avenue in Delmas was robbed by masked and armed men. The robbery took place on November 21 at around 10:30.
Streeknews arrived on scene at around 10:45 and it could clearly be seen how members of the community were looting loose coins and cash, possibly dropped by the robbers, which was lying in the entrance of Big M.
The looters ran towards the nearby taxi rank.
On the inside, massive burglar bars for security reasons secure Big M, but one of the robbers apparently managed to manoeuvre himself through the steel bars, held the personnel by gunpoint whilst robbing the shop.
The robbers fled in a white VW Polo with a GP registration number and some cartridges were found on the scene.
A security guard from Maksimum Security, Johannes Tsokela, was on his way to a supermarket next door when suddenly a bullet hit his bakkie.
“As I realised that I was midst of a possible crime I got out of my vehicle to assist and at that moment a second bullet flew past me,” said Tsokela.
Upon investigation it could clearly be seen that the bullet entered the Maksimum bakkie at the back of the canopy went through the back window of the bakkie itself and hit the dash board, right next to where Tsokela were seated.
More Maksimum Security personnel arrived and within minutes, the area was flooded with police and other stakeholders from the security industry.
Maksimum secured the area whilst co-owner Jolene Coombee and colleague Jakob Mzipa assisted the brave, but shocked Tsokela.
A business owner from the Indian Plaza, situated right across the scene crime, told Streeknews that he spotted a suspicious white VW Polo in front of his shop the day before.
In a video, it can be clearly seen how five men, sitting on the pavement in front of the said white Polo watched the liquor store and later on of the men entered it.
ALSO CHECK: Husband allegedly drives over his wife in Secunda, commits suicide
“The car and men appeared suspicious so I took the registration number of the Polo, and so be it, exactly 24 hours later they robbed Big M.
“It is that time of the year and everybody and every business owner should be vigilant and prepared for the worst to happen at any given time,” said the business owner.
At the time of going to print the police were still busy collecting evidence and taking statements from the owner and employees of Big M.
It could only be confirmed that an undisclosed amount of cash as well as a cellphone were taken during the robbery.
No one was seriously injured during the robbery. The VW Polo and its five occupants were also still at large.
“It is heartwarming to see how our security companies, oom Carel Botha from the Valke Buurtwag, members of the public and business owners can come together, stand together and help each other in times like these,” Coombee told Streeknews.
“We are forever grateful that Johannes was not hit by one of the bullets aimed at him.”
