Six armed robbers raided Hemingways Mall yesterday and made off with jewellery worth more than R300000.
Pandemonium reigned in the mall as shoppers fled screaming and shouting. Apparently, unarmed security guards also ran for their lives. No one was injured in the chaos.
The gang held staff at gunpoint at Browns Jewellers, before smashing and grabbing the loot.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the men had burst into the store on the third floor of the mall just after noon.
While staff looked into the barrels of their guns, the gang smashed opened a glass display cabinet filled with expensive jewellery and looted it before fleeing.
No suspects have been arrested yet, Mzuku said.
When the Dispatch arrived at the scene police investigators were extracting fingerprints and taking witness statements.
A cellphone hawker inside the mall, who identified himself as “Raju”, said he was attending to a customer when he saw scores of people running towards the exit of the mall.
“There were men, women and children all running to the door, they were screaming ‘Run! Run! Run!’ I began running. What was most scary is that the security guards were also running for their lives because they are not armed.”
CCTV camera footage showed the men storming out of the third-floor shop carrying their loot. They joined two other suspects waiting outside who had mall guards pinned down at gunpoint.
The gang fled in two getaway cars, one a maroon VW Polo with no number plates.
Mzuku said anyone with information should contact investigating officer Warrant Officer Martin Schaup on 071-475-1989.
Hemingways Mall general manager Janice Coopoosamy said the mall had increased private security and police presence during busy trading times.
“The safety and well-being of our tenants and patrons is our top priority,” she said.
lA Dutywa serial rapist was sentenced on Friday to two life sentences and 27 years imprisonment for seven counts of rape involving schoolgirls.
Thokozani Siwendu, 28, was sentenced in the Butterworth Regional Magistrate Court.
Some of his victims identified him, and in some cases he was linked to the crimes by DNA.
Siwendu was traced and arrested by the Butterworth family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit.
Butterworth police arrested a 60-year-old man in the early hours yesterday at his home in Ngquthu Village near Kei Bridge.
The arrest followed a tip-off that he was in possession of an unlicensed double-barrelled shotgun and ammunition. He is due in court soon.
Shoppers flee as gang raids EL store
Pandemonium reigned in the mall as shoppers fled screaming and shouting. Apparently, unarmed security guards also ran for their lives. No one was injured in the chaos.
The gang held staff at gunpoint at Browns Jewellers, before smashing and grabbing the loot.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said the men had burst into the store on the third floor of the mall just after noon.
While staff looked into the barrels of their guns, the gang smashed opened a glass display cabinet filled with expensive jewellery and looted it before fleeing.
No suspects have been arrested yet, Mzuku said.
When the Dispatch arrived at the scene police investigators were extracting fingerprints and taking witness statements.
A cellphone hawker inside the mall, who identified himself as “Raju”, said he was attending to a customer when he saw scores of people running towards the exit of the mall.
“There were men, women and children all running to the door, they were screaming ‘Run! Run! Run!’ I began running. What was most scary is that the security guards were also running for their lives because they are not armed.”
CCTV camera footage showed the men storming out of the third-floor shop carrying their loot. They joined two other suspects waiting outside who had mall guards pinned down at gunpoint.
The gang fled in two getaway cars, one a maroon VW Polo with no number plates.
Mzuku said anyone with information should contact investigating officer Warrant Officer Martin Schaup on 071-475-1989.
Hemingways Mall general manager Janice Coopoosamy said the mall had increased private security and police presence during busy trading times.
“The safety and well-being of our tenants and patrons is our top priority,” she said.
lA Dutywa serial rapist was sentenced on Friday to two life sentences and 27 years imprisonment for seven counts of rape involving schoolgirls.
Thokozani Siwendu, 28, was sentenced in the Butterworth Regional Magistrate Court.
Some of his victims identified him, and in some cases he was linked to the crimes by DNA.
Siwendu was traced and arrested by the Butterworth family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit.
Butterworth police arrested a 60-year-old man in the early hours yesterday at his home in Ngquthu Village near Kei Bridge.
The arrest followed a tip-off that he was in possession of an unlicensed double-barrelled shotgun and ammunition. He is due in court soon.
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