Beauty salons, robber’s new ‘style’

Violent robbers assaults before taking victims to dark bushes on the Verena Road

March 21, 2021

Chrisuné Vermeulen 2 minutes read

A shocking and violent new trend has developed during the past week in eMalahleni when two local beauty salons were targets of business robberies.

WITBANK NEWS reported earlier this year about another two beauty salons being the target for thieves as two break-ins occurred less than a month apart but escalated quickly in a violent crime as break-ins suddenly turned into armed robberies.

The first incident took place on March 11 where a local hairdresser was at work busy with her daily duties when two unknown men entered the business premises, immediately drawing out their firearms.

The staff and customers were instructed to enter the toilet after handing over valuables to the suspects.

The suspects then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash and cell phones.

On further investigation of the CCTV footage, it was discovered that the two males were accompanied by a third male and they fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Polo with registration number JJ 97 ZW GP.

The second incident took place on a night of terror on the evening of March 14 at approximately 20:30 while a salon owner and her husband were busy finalizing the weekend’s business when an unknown man with a balaclava entered the premises with his weapon pointed at them.

The suspect demanded the husband to lie on the floor, as the man laid down he was kicked in his face.

The salon owner managed to run past the suspect and tried to lock herself in the bathroom.

The suspect managed to overpower her and struck her over the head with an unknown object and left her unconscious on the floor.

The suspect was then joined by his accomplices.

The suspected robbers demanded their vehicle’s keys and valuables while further assaulting the couple.

The couple was forced into the boot of their vehicle; they further explained that the vehicle stopped three times before coming to a final stop on the Verena Road.

The couple was taken out of the boot of their vehicle with firearms drawn to them, got assaulted again before the suspects fled the scene with their vehicle.

The couple ran away to find assistance.

“This is an alarming new trend and we call on all salon owners and employees to be vigilant and to check and ensure their security services are in working order. Avoid staying open after normal trading hours and take note of suspicious people or vehicles around the businesses,” said Capt Eddie Hall, spokesperson for Witbank SAPS.

Anyone with information regarding these business robberies can contact the investigating officer from Trio Crime Witbank Sergeant Themba Mokwena on 078 017 6602.

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