Lebogang Seale
A daring cash heist at the Dobsonville shopping mall left terrified shoppers scurrying for cover after an armed gang opened fire indiscriminately with automatic weapons.
The shootout left two security guards and a bystander seriously injured. One guard had to be airlifted to hospital while his colleague was transported by ambulance after suffering serious bullet wounds.
Strewn spent cartridges around a stationary SVB Security van and along the walkway to entrance 3 of the busy mall bore testimony to the robbery.
By late yesterday afternoon, gun-toting police officers patrolled the front of the mall and around the parking lot as detectives searched for leads. Technicians circled cartridges on the ground and placed cones to mark the site of bullets, while paramedics treated the wounded.
A huge crowd of curious onlookers leaned against a fence.
However, the police had already made a breakthrough
Spokeswoman Captain Katlego Mogale said three suspects had been arrested in neighbouring Bramfisherville. Three of their accomplices were still at large. She said the suspects had abandoned their getaway vehicle in Bramfisherville and fled in other cars.
Mogale added that police had recovered three firearms – an R4, an R5 and a 9mm pistol. The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
At the time of the robbery, shortly after 2.30pm, guards were collecting cash from the mall.
A car guard at the mall, Lazarus Msibi, described how he dived for cover and hid beneath a car after he was caught in the crossfire.
“I was busy directing a motorist,” he explained.
“A Mercedes-Benz parked next to the (cash) van. There were two guys in the Benz. They started shooting and I heard more shots from all directions. I dived under the car.”
He said he remained under the car for some time as the shooting continued.
“I saw two robbers holding a trolley with lots of money,” he added.
A hawker near the mall described how the robbers shot indiscriminately as they fled the crime scene.
“I saw two guys in a BMW 740 sticking their heads out through the windows as they escaped.
“As they drove off at high speed, they were shooting, shooting and shooting. People were screaming and running away in all directions. I saw two women fall down, then stand up and run away.
“It was so scary; it was like watching a movie,” he said, adding that the Mercedes had the money in it and that its boot was open.
“ I did not know which direction to run to. I just lay down,” Msibi said.
Several hawkers near the mall told how they abandoned their stock as they fled the shooting.