Gunmen grab cash in mall robbery

THREE robbers made off with an undisclosed amount of cash in a heist at Hemingways mall yesterday.

A mall security guard, who asked not to be named, said he was sent to the scene around 3pm.

The guard said three Protea Coin Group guards had been installing cash into an ATM inside the mall at the time the robbers struck.

One guard outside with the vehicle was approached by the three gunmen and ordered to get into the passenger side of the vehicle.

He was then told to show one of the men how to drive the vehicle, allowing the suspects to leave the mall undetected.

It is unclear when the cash was taken as the three then escaped, past the mall's taxi rank, into a waiting car.

The guard then drove back into the mall to report the robbery.

“After speaking to the guard I went to speak to the taxi drivers at the rank who asked what was happening,” the guard said.

“According to them, these guys ran past them carrying a bag and managed to get away in a black BMW X5. No one saw the driver.”

When the Dispatch arrived on the scene, the area had been cordoned off and the driver giving a statement to the organised crime unit.

SAPS spokesman Captain Stephen Marais could not comment as police were still investigating.

A receptionist at Protea Coin Security said managers were away until Tuesday and would only comment then. — arethal@dispatch.co.za / zisandan@dispatch.co.za