“Shut your mouth or we’ll hurt you.”
These were the words a 51-year-old Birch Acres woman heard during a well-organised robbery at Norkem Mall on Tuesday afternoon.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, was looking for a gift for her grandchild when the traumatising event took place.
“I had just exited a clothing shop and was passing the banks when two women approached me,” she explained to Express telephonically. “They pretended they were selling something and I said I wasn’t interested.”
Then, the suspects pressed her against a wall. A group of men standing close-by, guessed to be co-conspirators, blocked the incident from other mall-goers.
“They pressed my hands down, covered my mouth and robbed me.”
Within less than five minutes, the suspects had taken her four rings, two bangles, a chain and her purse, which contained R500.
Two of the rings were worth thousands but also had sentimental value. One was her wedding ring and the other contained a rare blue diamond which belonged to her mother-in-law.
Before the victim could think what was happening, it was over.
“The men disappeared and the women ran, so I ran after them.” But a white car was waiting for them and they fled the scene.
While speaking to Express, the woman fought back tears as she relived the incident. “I don’t know what I would say to the women if I ever saw them again, but I did ask God to forgive them.”
A case of robbery was reported to Norkem Park SAPS. According to acting spokesperson W/O Mahlodi Langa there are no new developments.
Express did reach out to Norkem Mall’s spokesperson but is still awaiting comment.
