For a while now business robberies are increasing like the petrol prices. In the past week there were more than eight business robberies in eMalahleni.
On June 14, three robbers had the idea planned out to rob two stores next to each other, the 15 minutes apart and hijacked a unlucky driver.
Themba Lephoko who waited for his wife, Fisokuhle that was in the store whilst the robbery took place was that unlucky driver.
“We were heading home after we went to buy some groceries when my wife realized that she forgot something. We decided to stop at the nearest supermarket, Mr. Lephoko said.
As he parked his car and his wife went into the store, suddenly a man opened the victim’s vehicle door pointing a gun on him.
“While he held the gun, he said to me, ‘there is a robbery taking place in the shop and we suggest you do not walk into the shop’. I told the guy that I have no problem, but can I just get my wife out of the store. As I walked out calling my wife to come to the car, another man came up to me demanding my car keys,” said Themba.
He first refused and ignored the unknown man and simply walked into the shop. To Lephoko’s surprise he walked into a shop cluttered with five more armed men.
“That’s when I realized how serious this situation was so the man demanding my car keys just took it out of my hands. The robbers then quickly exited the supermarket,” he added.
When the victim’s heard a car spinning away in a high speed they all ran out and got informed about the robbery that took place just about 15 minutes earlier.
The owner of the other business wished to not talk to the media regarding the armed robbery for safety reasons.
“After five minutes an alarm response company rushed to the scene asking me to go along with them. They chased the vehicle at a high speed and made a turn to the suburb I live in. There it was, my car just a few blocks from my house. The suspects only managed to steal my cell phone and wallet,” said Themba.
The owner of the supermarket that was held at gunpoint from five different directions with customers in his store said, “It is a shame and a big loss. I really have sympathy for my customers to have to experience this traumatic scene.
In other cases like above there were six armed robberies in the CBD (Central Business District) on Youth Day, June 16. No one got injured physically in any of these cases but all the victim’s was touched emotionally.
No suspects were arrested and the police is investigating the case.
“We can only thank God for saving us, we could have easily be killed as these robbers was heavy armed,” Themba concluded.
