Robbers caught in CBD

Primary school pupils and community members took cover on Tuesday night last week when suspects opened fire at police officers following a business robbery in the Edenvale CBD.

The primary school girls were performing their annual Passion Play to a packed St Teresa Catholic Church audience when the drama unfolded.

Six men were arrested following the shoot-out.

The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, said he had just left the Edenvale Police Station when a call was received of a robbery in progress at Redline Liquor Store on Van Riebeeck Avenue.

“As I turned my vehicle onto Van Riebeeck Avenue, from Second Street, I saw four of the suspects running towards me,” said Lt Col Roberts.

The four men were arrested and Lt Col Roberts was alerted to two more suspects running along Eighth Avenue.

Redline car guards, George Skosana and Patrick Chake, were in pursuit along with reaction officers from ADT and officers from the Edenvale SAPS.

When the remaining suspects realised they had been spotted, they opened fire and Edenvale SAPS officers retaliated.

More than 15 shots were fired before the men were arrested.

With the assistance of various emergency response teams, including the Savika K9 Unit, the scene was secured.

The two vehicles used by the men were searched and police officers recovered a large amount of stolen alcohol as well as two firearms used.

Mr Mr Nikitas Ioannu, the owner of the store, told the NEWS it was the second time in three weeks that his store was hit.

“We are happy that no one was injured,” he said.

Mr James Fairbrother unknowingly walked into the bottle store while the robbery was in progress.

“The men were calm. There were two women working in the store and the men were rough with them. At one point they had a gun to her head,” said Mr Fairbrother.

He added that the men ordered him to take out his wallet.

“They took the money from my wallet and my car keys then gave my wallet back,” said Mr Fairbrother.

When the suspects left the store with a trolley of alcohol, Mr Faribrother was able to run outside and flagged down a passing police vehicle.

“The officer jumped out and started chasing the suspects. Several shots were fired. A couple of the bullets passed by my head and I dove behind my car,” said Mr Fairbrother.

He added that seconds later, the men were surrounded and arrested.

“The community then stepped in to assist the SAPS in locating the firearms which the men had disposed of,” said Mr Fairbrother.

“The response from the SAPS was brilliant. Within second of the robbery, there were six or seven vehicles on-scene. They even managed to recover my car keys which the suspects had thrown into the bushes. I cannot say enough about how amazing our police officers were,” he said.

Investigations are underway to determine whether those arrested on Tuesday night could be involved in other similar cases.