AK-47 gang hits shopping centre

2006-09-05 18:24

Molaole Montsho

Hartbeespoort Dam - A security officer is in a stable condition after being shot in the chest in a pre-dawn attack on the Sediba shopping centre at Hartbeespoort Dam on Monday.

North West police said the security guard was injured in a shoot-out between him, his colleague and a gang of 14 heavily-armed men.

Inspector Erica Roos said on Tuesday that 14 men armed with AK-47s entered the shopping centre about 03:00 and overpowered two men who were delivering the daily newspaper, Beeld.

"Moments later, two other security officers arrived to withdraw money from an ATM, but they were also overpowered and held at gunpoint," she said.

One guard shot, one held hostage

The deliverymen and guards were ordered to lie down and one of the robbers threw a rock through the window of an exclusive store, triggering the alarm.

Two security officers responded to the alarm and a shoot-out ensued.

When the one guard was shot, the other was overpowered and taken to the other hostages.

The robbers loaded expensive shoes and handbags into a panel van and light delivery van.

They fled in the two vans, as well as two white BMWs.

14 in bank robbery

Roos said police were investigating armed robbery, attempted murder and housebreaking.

Meanwhile, 14 men who robbed the Teba Bank of an undisclosed amount of money in Marikana on Friday are still at large.

The gang fired into the air before escaping with the money. Police said no one was hurt during the robbery.

- African Eye