Sunday night proved chaotic for law enforcement as groups of armed robbers targeted two filling stations in Carletonville in quick succession.
The first robbery took place at the Caltex filling station at the corner of Annan Road and Gold Street.
Three thugs, two of whom were armed, stormed the business at about 23:30.
The Sotho-speaking robbers pointed their firearms at the staff, proceeding to take money and the petrol pump attendants’ cellphones before running away. No one was reported injured.
The second robbery occurred in the early hours of Monday when thugs stormed the Sasol filling station at the corner of Dolomite and Reinecke Streets. The staff were busy with routine tasks when they saw five masked and armed men arriving at approximately 00:30. Thinking fast, the staff ran into the office at the facility and locked themselves inside.
The robbers, however, stormed the office and broke the door open with a crowbar.
They pointed firearms at the staff and demanded money. The thugs, who also spoke Sotho, grabbed approximately R1 000 inside the office as well as two of the staff’s cellphones.
One of the personnel managed to push the panic button that alerted Gladiator Community Protection.
According to Gladiator’s owner, Mr. André van Jaarsveld, they received the alert at 00:48, and one of the company’s security staff, Mr. Daniel Rossouw, raced to the filling station. Upon his arrival three minutes later, he immediately saw the robbers, who started shooting at his vehicle.
“Gladiator’s tactical unit and the local police were promptly called in for backup. The suspects fired four shots at the response vehicle, and Rossouw returned fire,” says Van Jaarsveld.
“Although there were fortunately no injuries, the people on-site were left in a state of shock. Distress Alert EMS was called to assist with the Sasol staff members who were in shock,” he added.
This quick response stopped the robbers from continuing to bomb the ATM, as they had explosives with them. The thugs then ran away.
“It definitely saved the lives of the staff members who were still in the safe room at that time,” says Van Jaarsveld.
