It appears other people just couldn’t wait for 1 June when alcohol would be sold. This as a Shoprite LiquorShop in Newtown Junction, Johannesburg was robbed in bizarre fashion. The suspects tunneled through a solid concrete floor to gain access. The incident took place during South Africa’s hard level 4 and 5 lockdown period, during which the sale of alcohol was strictly prohibited.
The manager of the liquor shop in Newtown discovered the theft – and a large hole in the ground – when she entered the store on 29 May. She was returning to prepare for the store’s reopening under the easing level 3 lockdown conditions on 1 June.
With alcohol was in high demand during the lockdown period, the store was secured from the outside throughout. But the suspects avoided the mall’s main entrance and instead used electrical and stormwater tunnels beneath the shopping centre to gain access to an area beneath the store.
They then tunneled through the solid concrete floor directly into the liquor shop to gain access undetected.
It is unclear how the thieves knew where to tunnel, nor how long it took them to get through the thick concrete floor, but they returned a few times to steal a large amount of stock.
According to Oswald Meiring, the Shoprite Group’s Loss Control manager, the suspects were first recorded on CCTV cameras on 21 May, just 10 days before liquor sales were allowed.
Footage from inside the store shows three suspects, although more may have remained in the tunnel to help move the large quantity of liquor stolen.
Meiring says the thieves made off with whiskey, brandy, gin, cider, vodka, and beer to an estimated value of R300 000.
A R50 000 reward, subject to terms and conditions, has been made available for information that leads to a successful arrest.
Johannesburg Central Police Station spokesperson, Captain Xoli Mbele confirmed that a business burglary case is under investigation, and “anyone who has witnessed people selling liquor these past few days before level 3 began should please contact the police and assist with investigations.”
Details: People with information can call Shoprite Liquor Group on 080 011 8879; service@asesa.co.za.
Johannesburg Central Police 011 497 7000
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