By Neo Mathibe
Police say they are yet to make any headway regarding the robbery which saw unidentified gunmen rob the newly opened Pick n Pay supermarket at the Masianokeng Lifestyle Centre and making off with an undisclosed amount of money and goods earlier this month.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli on Tuesday this week said the police responded to a distress alarm on the fateful day and arrived at the store after the assailants had made a quick exit.
He said they do not yet have any leads on the identities of the robbers, but have launched their investigations.
“We have opened an armed robbery case following the incident and have kicked off investigations,” Supt Mopeli said.
Store manager, Kojang Malahleha, says the audacious robbers did not even wear balaclavas, and that they desecrated and ripped out cash register.
Malahleha said the thieves helped themselves to a number of light goods, among them brand-new mobile phones.
She said they were agitated after the incident, but were glad that there were neither injuries nor fatalities during the 20-minute robbery.
“Some of the employees were able to escape while others remained inside and hid. The robbers left the floor littered with bullet shells after firing several shots at the roof to scare the staff and customers.
“The armed assailants stormed into the store and ordered everybody to lie down while they carried out the robbery. We do not know how many they were.
“They took money from the till drawers, and some goods including cell phones. At the moment we do not know how much money they took but a till drawer has been retrieved by police. These robbers dropped the till drawer when they were make their escape. Another till drawer was found abandoned in a nearby village and we do not know if it had any money in it. We are yet to find out how much was taken when all records have been reconciled against what is left,” she told theReporter.
It is only eight days ago when Malahleha said the robbery had traumatised them dearly, but that would not stop them from opening shop.
She concluded by expressing confidence that the police would soon arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice, with the assistance of the CCTV footage they retrieved from the store.
