Robbery goes bad
2003-09-08 07:52
Johannesburg - Rapid reaction by police and private security guards has led to the arrest of three of a gang of six or seven armed robbers who attempted to rob a Ferndale Pick 'n Pay supermarket on Sunday, police said.
Johannesburg police Inspector Amanda Roestoff said on Monday that Linden police responded to a call that staff were being held up inside the outlet on Sunday evening.
The robbers fled the supermarket on spotting the police.
But police caught up with them at the corners of Susman and Barkstan Streets and a shoot-out ensued between the robbers on one side and police and ADT security on the other.
One security guard was apparently shot in the shoulder and one robber was shot dead. Three other would-be robbers were arrested and two unlicenced firearms were confiscated. The guard was taken to hospital for treatment.
Nothing was apparently taken from the supermarket.
In an earlier incident, five men were arrested after a robbery at Checkers in Emmarentia. Roestoff said the store manager and his wife were robbed at gunpoint of an undisclosed amount of money and jewellery at around 14:00.
The five men were arrested while fleeing in a taxi from the scene. Three unlicenced firearms were seized. The stolen jewellery and cash were recovered.
The eight men would appear in court soon.
- SAPA