Yesterday afternoon at about 16:00 five males entered a liquor outlet situated on the corners of Varkensvlei road and Olieboom road Philippi. Three of the men were armed and demanded money from the cashiers at gunpoint. The five suspects looted an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Polo. Police were alerted immediately after the robbers fled.
Police who were in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene gave chase to the armed robbers. On Weltevrede road in Philippi about two kilometres away from the crime scene the driver of the Volkswagen Polo lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.
Two of the robbers fled from the scene and was apprehended within minutes. Police arrested the remaining three suspects where their vehicle overturned and also seized a loaded shotgun which was used in the robbery. The serial number of the shotgun was filed off
No shots were fired and nobody was injured during the armed robbery or during the chasing of the suspects. The five suspects aged 22, 23, 25, 27 and 32 respectively sustained minor injuries when their Volkswagen Polo overturned. Some of the cash was also recovered.
Police is investigating a case of armed robbery and is urging the public to contact the investigation official Detective Constable Ayanda Tolbaard at 073 532 3865 or 021 690 1527 with any information.
The five suspects are due to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court soon on charges relating to armed robbery and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The acting station commander Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Petersen says police will continue clamping down on crime and the perpetrators thereof. Police will maintain their zero tolerance approach in the combatting and investigation of crime. He commended the members for a job well done.
Anyone with information on crime in the Phillipi area is kindly requested to contact Phillipi SAPS at 021 695 1500 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111. All information will be treated as highly confidential.
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