Jewel heist: Gang arrested
2003-02-02 20:03
Johannesburg - Three men were arrested and jewellery worth R180 000 recovered after an armed gang robbed a jewellery store in Highlands North on Sunday morning.
Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said a gang of six men, armed with handguns, entered the store in the Balfour Park shopping centre at 10:40 and ordered the manager to open the safe.
The manager did not have the keys, so the men allegedly began grabbing jewellery that was on display and stuffed it into bags.
The men also stole a wallet and cellphone from a couple who were in the store. They were not injured.
When the men left the shop the manager alerted the centre's security guards. Some of the robbers fled on foot, while others left in a red Toyota car. Police arrived shortly afterwards.
One of the fleeing men fired a shot at a security guard, but missed.
Three men were arrested and some of the jewellery recovered. One of the men was injured and taken to hospital.
The three arrested men, aged 26, 28 and 40, would appear in court on Tuesday on charges of armed robbery and attempted murder.
- SAPA