Bank robber shot dead in act
2005-04-12 19:31
Zenzele Kuhlase
Graskop - A bank robber was shot dead when he and two accomplices were caught using angle grinders to break open a safe.
Captain Mtsholi Bhembe said on Tuesday that police patrolling the streets of the small tourist town of Graskop, Mpumalanga, heard the sound of the grinders about 03:00 on Saturday and went to investigate.
Bhembe said: "The suspects saw the police lights and fled, but one was shot and injured."
The injured man, Garida Papela, 27, was rushed to Graskop Hospital where he later died.
Police recovered three angle-grinders, a hammer,a car jack and two bags of angle-grinder discs.
Bhembe said: "The suspects had opened the safe, but hadn't taken any money."
The two other burglars were still at large.
Police suspect that the burglars had inside help because the bank's alarms had been deactivated. A security guard had been taken in for questioning.
- African Eye