Business robbers apprehended by police as they flee crime scene

Yesterday at 10:20, police officers at Durban Central were conducting crime prevention duties in the CBD when they received a report of a robbery at a wholesalers shop on Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street. When police arrived on the scene they found distraught employees and customers who were still stunned by what they had witnessed. The shop owner informed police that while they were performing their duties they were accosted by three armed men who instructed all staff and customers to lie on the floor. The men looted the till and removed an undisclosed amount of cash, 20 watches, seven cell phones and two speakers before they fled the scene in their getaway vehicle.

Police officers immediately followed up on the information received from staff at the store and security guards. The suspect’s vehicle was spotted on Queen Street and police officers intercepted the vehicle. On searching the vehicle police discovered two gas pistols; cash; cellphone accessories and speakers. The suspects aged 20 and 23 were arrested and charged for robbery. They will appear in the Durban Magistrates Court on Monday.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula applauded the police officers for the arrests. “It is a pleasure to see that deployments that are in place for the Festive Season are bearing fruits. Criminals continue to test our rapid response capacity despite the high number of arrests that were effected since the launch of our Festive Season Operations. We appeal to citizens to report crimes immediately as they occur to enable us to respond speedily,” he said.