Cops arrest 'jewel thief'
2007-12-04 19:27
Johannesburg - A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shop robbery in Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday morning in which about R100 000 worth of jewellery was taken, Western Cape police said.
Police spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe said the man was arrested at about 09:30 and had been placed under police guard in hospital for injuries he sustained during the robbery.
Police were searching for the man's two accomplices.
Mangqwengqwe said the men reportedly robbed a jewellery shop in the CBD on Tuesday.
"One of the three men pretended to buy jewellery, while the other two jumped over a counter and pulled out firearms threatening the jewellery (shop) owner and his wife," said Mangqwengqwe.
There were no other customers in the shop.
The men then smashed one of the jewellery display cabinets and took the jewellery.
During the robbery, the owner and his wife managed to press the panic button and shout for help.
"Further reports indicate that the shop owner grabbed a piece of iron nearby and hacked one of them in the head."
The other two men sped away from the scene in a white VW Golf driven by another person.
The third man could not escape the scene as a result of his head injuries. A case of armed robbery was registered and the investigation was underway.
- SAPA