A gun battle, cries and screams were the least of the patrons’ expectations when they visited Cradlestone Mall this past weekend.
The beautiful Sunday, 16 August turned ugly for most patrons who witnessed the gun-toting criminals robbing a jewellery store in the shopping centre.
An eyewitness at the scene, Amanda Kouaiky, her husband and their children ran for their lives. She recalled some glimpses of this life-threatening situation.
“I have never, ever been so frightened. We had just finished our shopping and were walking out from Woolworths with our cold drinks in our hands when we saw hundreds of people with fear in their eyes running towards the exit with their trolleys packed with groceries, screaming ‘get down’,” a traumatised Amanda explained.
“While pushing my trolley as fast as I could and holding on to my shopping bags, I tried to get as far away from the scene as possible. I heard so many gunshots I lost count,” she said.
The shootout ensued after off-duty police officers disturbed the robbers. “It was the first time ever that I heard bullets flying past us outside. We all hid under the cars in the parking lot to make sure we were safe. My crying children were begging me to take them home,”a helpless Amanda relived the ordeal.
Amanda said her children’s anxiety was calmed by car guards who were also hiding under the cars. They spoke to the children gently to assure them they were safe.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too long before the robbers fled the scene.
Gauteng Provincial Police spokesperson Brigadier Matapelo Peters indicated that a manhunt had been launched for the armed robbers. It is believed there were seven of them, including a female.
At least two of the robbers were injured during the shootout; however, their accomplices managed to carry them to the getaway vehicles, a white Nissan NP200 and a black BMW.
A private security company member was also injured and airlifted to hospital. “At this stage, police are searching for at least seven suspects, one of them a female. The possibility of there being more suspects cannot be ruled out,” said Peters.
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, consequently ordered that the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit responsible for investigating organised crime, including robberies at malls, jump on this case. He commended the off-duty officers for selflessly placing themselves in harm’s way and attempting to apprehend the suspects, thereby saving the lives of innocent shoppers.
“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects is urged to contact their nearest police station or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111,” Peters concluded.
