The manager of the shop on the corner of First Avenue and First Street, was threatened by the armed suspect told the victim he would kill someone in the shop if the safe keys were not handed over to him.
Springs police spokesman Capt Johannes Ramphora says the armed suspect ordered all the shoppers and staff to lie on the floor while waving his gun around.
The shop doors were already closed for business with only a few customers still inside the shop.
The manager was allegedly at the back of the store when she noticed a suspect with a gun, but before reaching the front she was grabbed by her arm and pushed towards the tills by another suspect.
She was asked for the panic button, but she didn’t have it with her.
The armed suspect took her to the back office while the other suspect stood guard with the rest of the victims.
Ramphora says she was ordered to open the safe door and when she refused the suspect threatened to kill someone in the store.
She handed over the safe keys to the suspect who then tied her hands behind her back with cable ties.
They opened the safe and took the cash, estimated to R40 000, from the shelf.
They asked for the drop down safe keys, but the manager informed the thieves these keys are not kept on the premises.
Ramphora says the suspects were allegedly looking for a basket to put boxes of cigarettes in, but it is believed they were disturbed as they left the store.
He urges the community to contact the Springs Police Station on 011 365 5700/19/20 to assist them with the investigation.
