Four suspects were arrested minutes after they allegedly robbed two businesses simultaneously in Sundra, last Friday afternoon.
It is alleged that four men arrived in a white Renault Fluid at the centre where the Lifestyle Supermarket is located, and split into pairs with two going into the supermarket and the others into the post office.
At the post office, the manager was threatened at gunpoint and forced to open the safe.
After looting the safe of cash, the robbers headed back to the Renault.
Also read: Man assaulted during robbery
In the supermarket, staff were held at gunpoint and the suspects demanded money.
They took an undisclosed amount of cash from the tills and robbed customers of their cellphones, before fleeing to the getaway vehicle.
All four suspects then drove off.
A staff member of the supermarket called the owner to inform him of the robbery and the owner immediately set out to find the suspects.
Once he caught up with them, a shoot-out ensued.
The suspects were forced to abandon their car after colliding with another vehicle and the Renault ended up in a ditch.
They fled on foot and community members in the area helped the supermarket owner pursue them.
Detectives from Etwatwa who were in the area also joined the pursuit.
Also read: Victims assaulted during business robbery
They managed to corner and apprehend all four suspects and recovered two unlicensed firearms and the stolen money and cellphones.
Police investigations revealed the Renault had false registration plates and the serial number on one of the firearms had been filed off.
The arrested men face a number of charges including armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Springs Police Station commander Brig Thembeka Gwebushe applauded the police and the community members who assisted in the arrest of the suspects.
Follow us on social media:
