A spate of armed robberies, with the same modus operandi of tying victims with cable ties, has rocked the area of Lwandle.
The first incident occurred on Thursday 9 February, at the well-known Dr Mzandolo Medical Centre, where four suspects with firearms entered the premises and held occupants at gunpoint.
They then took two laptops and two cellphones before fleeing the scene. The incident happened just after 13:00.
The second incident, on the same day, occurred at a Somalian Shop on Yotho Street, Lwandle.
It is alleged that four suspects stormed the shop. The armed suspects tied occupants and took the money, airtime, and cellphones before fleeing the crime scene.
Lwandle police spokesperson Sgt Mthokozisi Gama confirmed both incidents. He said police are seeking public assistance to locate the suspects.
“One of the armed robberies occurred on Thursday 9 February at about 13:08 at Lwandle Medical Centre. It is alleged that four unknown suspects arrived at the doctor’s room and pointed at the complainant with firearms,” he said.
“They then tied them with cable ties and took two laptops, two cellphones and (left) the scene. Two hours later, another armed robbery was reported at Yotho Street, in Lwandle,” said Gama.
“It is alleged that four unknown suspects armed with firearms entered the shop and pointed at them (occupants) with firearms. They then tied them with cable ties and took an undisclosed amount of money, airtime and cellphones before fleeing the scene,” he said.
Gama said police have noticed that a similar modus operandi was used in both incidents. He warned businesses to be more vigilant and beef up their security.
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Siyabonga Macaula said crime was on the “rise” and found it “shocking” to have experienced so much so early in the year.
“We need to have community involvement in all that we are trying to do to fight the scourge of crime. Ever since the outbreak of extortion, these crimes whenever they take place, one finds it difficult not to link them,” he said.
Macaula said all community structures should help in preaching the gospel about crime in their different constituencies to win the battle against it.
- In an unrelated incident, at OK Furniture Store at Broadway Square Mall six unknown suspects entered the store and pointed at workers with firearms. They took nine laptops and 16 cellphones and fled the scene. They used a silver-grey Renault as a getaway vehicle. The vehicle was later recovered dumped on the N2 opposite Nomzamo.
Anyone with information is request to phone Sgt Wynard Carelse on 021 845 2060.
