A tavern on 4th Avenue in Alexandra, was left counting its losses after thieves made off with alcohol, electrical equipment, and cash valued at R33 000 during a break-in on Tuesday night.
According to Steve Monnakgotla, who was looking after the tavern in the absence of owner Leonard Ramushu, the suspects forced their way inside by breaking padlocks and security gates before accessing the counter area where money and stock were kept.
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“They broke the padlock on the butler door, and they got access to get in and when they went in, there is another butler door that secures the counter and alcohol, they broke it too.”
The tavern had been fitted with three CCTV cameras covering the entrance and counter areas, but according to Ramushu, the suspects cut wires and removed the hard drive. “They took the CCTV camera hard drive, so we could not get the footage. We don’t know anything, we don’t know how many there were,” Ramushu explained.
Ramushu, who has run the business for more than 20 years, said this was the first time his tavern had been broken into. He suspects the culprits may be people from the same community who were familiar with the tavern’s layout.
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While this marks the first reported business robbery in Alexandra this year, the crime is not new to the area. Last year, several taverns were targeted by criminals, with some owners robbed at gunpoint. CCTV footage shared on social media showed armed men storming taverns, taking stock and valuables from both owners and patrons.
At the time, local police raised concerns about the spate of robberies, prompting Ramushu, who also chairs a local liquor forum, to convene meetings with tavern owners to discuss tightening security measures. He said they had been working closely with police to address the issue.
Beyond the losses incurred as a result of the burglary, Monnakgotla said the business continues to lose money as it has not been operating since the break in. He said they are waiting for the police to come to the premises to collect evidence, including fingerprints.
Ramushu reported the burglary at the Alexandra Police Station, where officers opened a case and launched an investigation.
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