Robbers hit shop during prayers

2007-01-22 19:07

Thabisile Khoza

Malelane - A gang has been targeting a large Muslim-owned store and robbing it whenever the owner closed shop for midday prayers.

The gang was bust on Friday when one of the robbers was caught with R120 000 cash.

He had hidden inside Patel Hardware and Supermarket in kaMhlushwa, Mpumalanga, and stolen R120 000 from the tills while the store was closed between noon and 14:00.

When the shop reopened, he blended in with the customers and went to the till to pay R80 for a box of snacks.

But the owner, Ahmed Patel, checked the box, found the money and called the police.

"The suspect told us he was part of a gang who hide inside the shop, especially on Fridays when it was very busy," said Constable Mzwandile Nyambi of Tonga police on Monday.

Often found tills empty

Police arrested the suspect, and later arrested three more at their homes in Mangweni village.

The cops found another R180 000 which was also stolen from the store, as well as two bakkies which are believed to be used to move stolen goods.

On Monday, Patel said he often found the tills empty when he reopened the store on Friday afternoons.

"It was confusing because our security guards always made sure the doors were securely locked," he said.

He said he was pleased the syndicate had been nabbed.

Police have opened a case of housebreaking and theft and expect to make more arrests.

- African Eye