VIDEO: Shop owner recognises suspects
BRYANSTON - Following the armed robbery of Andreas Salvers jewellery shop in Bryanston on 11 February, a cellphone store owner in Colony Shopping Centre claims that he recognised the faces of the robbers from a previous incident which took place in 2013.
The incident took place on 11 February at 10.30am when six armed suspects held up staff before stealing various items and an undisclosed amount of money.
Jewellery store owner, Salver said two people entered his store under the guise of an engaged couple, and while the male suspect made his way to the counter, the woman kept the door open for four other suspects who entered the store.
He added that as one of his employees was making his way back from the toilet, one of the suspects pointed a gun at the staff member who shouted, “We’re being robbed.”
Salver said the robbers locked the entire staff in the storage room before fleeing.
In the past few months, jewellery and cellphone store robberies have been on the rise, with the last being an armed robbery at Hyde Park Corner on 19 March where four armed gunmen entered a Vodacom shop which was then robbed of R1.5 million.
The MTN shop in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre also fell victim to an armed robbery on 18 September last year when two armed suspects tied up the staff and locked them in the storeroom before stealing goods worth undisclosed amount.
One police success occurred in June last year when five suspects, believed to be involved in a syndicate responsible for cellphone robberies which took place in Hyde Park, Sandton and Craighall, were arrested.
After the release of surveillance footage detailing the robbery at Andreas Salver’s jewellery store, manager of 1 Two 1 Cellular, Jason Rom claimed to have recognised the suspects from one of the four robberies that have taken place at his store since October 2013.
The two store owners have since connected with Andre Snyman, founder of Eblockwatch, who has been assisting them with the case. Snyman said members of Eblockwatch helped track down the suspects. “This is a perfect example of what networking can do. Eblockwatch collects information and puts the dots together,” Snyman said.
Following the suspects’ arrest and appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court after the first robbery, Rom alleged his staff identified the suspects in a police line-up, but the case was thrown out of court. Although these two claims have not yet been substantiated.
As of yet, the police have not released an official statement connecting the robberies.
Watch the video below:
