Businesses around eMalahleni have been targeted and now that the festive season is around the corner the businesses need to be aware and work together.
On Saturday, November 18 two businesses were robbed on the day, the first robbery took place at 13:00 in Voortrekker Street.
Mr Zemene Wube alleged that he was busy in his shop together with another employee when they were attacked by two suspects.
One of the suspects was armed with a firearm; the suspects took two cell phones and cigarettes.
The second robbery took place at 21:45 at the petrol station on the Old Middelburg Road.
That evening, Mr Mduduzi Mbele was working behind the till, when two unknown men entered the store.
The armed suspect can be seen behind the counter holding a gun towards the cashier in the armed robbery on Saturday, November 18 at a petrol station on the Old Middelburg Road.
At this stage Mbele was alone behind the till points, he noticed that one of the men had a bag in his hands, while the other suspect walked towards the cool drinks and went to pay.
The suspect with the bag was standing at the till point as the other suspect walked over to pay for the cool drink he had in his hand.
As the suspect with the cool drink handed it over to Mbele so he could scan it in, the suspect then handed him a R20. Once the till opened, the suspect with the bag pulled out a firearm and pointed it at Mbele.
The suspect then came around to the back of the till and emptied the cash into the bag.
Once they took all the cash from the shop, the suspects left with an undisclosed amount of money. Later that evening it was also discovered that the suspects got away with R1000 worth of cigarettes.
A few days earlier on November 16 another robbery occurred at 00:15 in Extension 10 when Mr Gift Mkhaliphi arrived on duty at 18:00.
Mkhaliphi is employed as a security guard and was patrolling the tyre yard. When he went back to the kitchen to eat, he was confronted by three unknown men; two of the men had firearms.
The suspects pushed him down to the ground where he was kicked and after assaulting him they tied him up using his shoe laces.
About 20 minutes later another security guard went into the guard house where he was also tied up. Then they heard a truck moving and three truck tyres were taken.
Earlier that week another two robberies occurred, the first robbery occurred early on Tuesday morning, November 14 at 02:00 in Springbok Street.
Mr Siongiseni Gumede reported for duty as a security guard at a particular company; everything was in order while he was patrolling throughout the night.
At 02:00 while conducting further patrols, he was suddenly startled by two suspects in the yard wearing balaclavas.
The one suspect had a firearm in his possession, he then tied Gumede up with his shoe laces and the suspects stole batteries from the trucks.
The suspects got away with 11 tyres with rims and four batteries, worth an undisclosed amount of money.
Later that day another businesses robbery took place at 13:30 at a jewellery shop inside a well know shopping centre.
The women working in the shop alleged that they were busy working when two unknown men entered the shop carrying firearms.
The suspects pushed the two of the employees into the cashier room, one suspect had a plastic bag.
As the women stood in fear in the cashier room, the suspects started placing rings, necklaces and earrings inside the bag.
One of the other suspects that was involved in the armed robbery on Saturday, November 18 at the petrol station on the Old Middelburg Road.
Once the jewellery was all placed into the bag, the suspects ran out of the shop.
With the help of security and the community, one suspect with a firearm was arrested.
All the stolen jewellery was found and the firearm was a 38 special which had five live rounds of ammunition in it. The serial number was filed off.
“Businesses must work together with the police to ensure that their businesses are safe during the festive season,” said Captain Eddie Hall, spokesperson for Witbank Police Station
If anyone has any information regarding the robbery at the petrol station please feel free to contact Lt. Col. Solly Thobajane on 079 891 5845.
ALSO READ
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/102096/klarinet-business-targeted-robbery/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/94385/five-suspects-wanted-business-robbery-cbd/
