‘WE need the help of the community.’
This was the urgent plea of King Cetshwayo District Police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdalose, who once again appealed to the public to help their communities by assisting the police in bringing criminals to justice.
His call came after another business in the Empangeni CBD was hit by robbers on Friday – the second incident in a week.
The MTN agency situated at the Absa Building in Maxwell Street, was held up and robbed after a number of suspects attempted to gain access to the safe.
Failing to do so, they then produced a hammer and tried to open the safe by force.
Again being unsuccessful, the suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the till.
Five suspects are said to have been involved in the crime, including the driver of the getaway vehicle.
‘It looks like this is becoming a common modus operandi.
‘They wanted the cellphones from the safe, but after failing to get access to it they made off with cash instead,’ said Mdalose.
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A witness to the robbery said a white VW GTI with registration number NRB 52832 was used as the getaway vehicle.
According to a source, this was the second time the store has been hit.
Last year staff were held up and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash, however quick action by Empangeni SAPS led to the arrest of the suspects shortly after the incident.
Last Monday two people were treated for shock and a pregnant woman was taken to hospital following a robbery at American Swiss in Sanlam Centre.
In January NWJ Jewellery was also held up as five men, one armed with a handgun while the rest wielded hammers, made off with an undisclosed amount of jewellery.
Anyone with information regarding the cases is urged to contact Empangeni Head of Detectives, Bonga Mdalose, on 082 5570365.
