A Northdene Avenue man’s plan to obtain cigarettes during the lockdown went up in smoke on Tuesday after he was arrested for threatening a shopkeeper with a gun.

According to information received from Brakpan police, the man approached the shopkeeper at a Wenden Avenue tuck shop around 2pm wanting to buy cigarettes.

The sale of cigarettes and tobacco products is prohibited during the lockdown.

The man was adamant he wanted cigarettes, but the shopkeeper told him he did not have any to sell.

READ: Teen arrested for unlicensed gun

The man then pulled out a gun and pointed it at the shopkeeper, demanding cigarettes.

He ran from the scene after the shopkeeper insisted he did not have any.

The victim reported the incident to patrolling police officers who, with the help of a resident who saw in which direction the gunman fled, were able to track him down.

He was found, along with the gun, at a residence along Northdene Avenue.

The man was arrested and the firearm confiscated.

READ: Lockdown leads to increase in illegal dumping

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or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za

 or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za

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