The sound of gunfire shocked residents of Salvia Court, in Salvia Avenue, Primrose, this morning.
Three alleged business robbers were cornered by the Primrose SAPS in the courtyard of the block of flats, after they daringly took a 6m leap to escape police custody.
The drama unfolded after the men entered the Golden Supermarket and Take Away in Rietfontein Road.
Sgt Styles Maome, the communications officer for the Primrose police, told the GCN that the men then locked the owner of the shop in a room.
“Primrose SAPS officers out on patrol and driving from Cemetery Road were alerted to something strange going on at the shop by a bakery truck driver, who knew the business, and went to investigate.
“Upon arrival they found that the store’s doors were closed and people in the area told them that the business was doing stock-take, but they couldn’t see any employees working in the shop,” said Maome.
The officers called for back-up and requested residents of Salvia Court (the shop’s back door leads into the flats) to allow them access to the area, so that they could cordon it off.
They then waited for the robbers to appear.
It is alleged that the driver of the getaway car, a black VW Golf with Mpumalanga registration plates, what’sapped his accomplices inside to tell them to use the back door, as police officers were outside in front.
The officers lay in wait for the business robbers to appear and they spotted them on a staircase.
One of the officers ordered them to stop and one of the accused tried to draw his firearm.
Before he could do so, the officer fired a warning shot into the ground.
It was then that the suspects decided to take the 6m plunge off the stairs to the courtyard below, to escape the police.
During the fall, a firearm fell to the ground where the men landed and another was found in the grass a few metres away.
It was later determined that one of the firearms was a toy.
Police waiting in the courtyard apprehended all three men, aged 28, 28 and 30.
The suspects did not fire any shots, but it is believed that a second warning shot was fired by police during the escape attempt.
The owner of the store’s cellphone and shop keys were found in the possession of the men.
The fourth suspect, in the getaway vehicle, is still at large.
The three were arrested on charges of business robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.
They are due to appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court soon.
