KIMBERLEY – Rapid police reaction to a business robbery, where a supermarket was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in Arnot Street, Douglas, resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old man in connection with the robbery.
Four suspects dressed in blue overalls, armed with a firearm stormed into the Supermarket shot and wounded the shop owner. The suspects fled the scene in a getaway white bakkie with an undisclosed amount of money, cigarettes, and other items.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 08 August 2021, at approximately 19:00. The suspects entered the supermarket and pretended to be customers.
The Kimberley Flying Squad and Provincial Organised Crime Detectives responded immediately which led to a high-speed pursue after receiving a lookout report from Douglas police. The suspects’ bakkie was spotted 20 kilometers in the direction of Kimberley.
Three of the suspects jumped out and fled the scene on foot when they realised that the police were closing in on them.
However, a 45-year-old suspect who is believed to be the driver of the bakkie was arrested. Cash, cigarettes, and other items were found inside the bakkie, believed to be the stolen bait.
The Supermarket owner sustained a gunshot wound and is receiving medical treatment.
The Provincial Organised Crime Detectives have launched a manhunt for the other suspects.
Any person with the information that could assist in the arrest of the other three suspects is requested to contact the investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Doggy Magugu at 082 4690 578 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Douglas Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 10 August 2021 on a charge of robbery aggravating.
The Acting Provincial Head of Organised Crime Detectives, Colonel Clayton Du Plooy commended the members for their swift response resulting in the arrest of the suspects.